Mandala

Victoria Faith

Find your groove (okay Pattern)

You will use a fantastic tool in Procreate called the Drawing Assist Tool to make wonderful Mandalas

In the ancient Sanskrit language of Hinduism and Buddhism, mandala means “circle.” Traditionally, a mandala is a geometric design or pattern that represents the cosmos or deities in various heavenly worlds. “It's all about finding peace in the symmetry of the design and of the universe,” says artist Saudamini Madra.

Start with a new canvas for your image. It should be one of the following dimensions:

8x10in or 10x10in
300 DPI

The first step for any mandala is to make a grid. Whether your overall shape is square or circular, you can start around the center point with a circle. Then decide what basic shapes you want to radiate from that circle, like an inverted U or V. Then, the next layer should be slightly different. You might change the shape a little, fill it in with different strokes or colors.

HOW TO START

Mandalas are used as tools for meditation, representing a "map" that guides the viewer from the outer chaos to the inner peace of the center.

Begin with a rough idea of what you want to create. Choose circular or rectangular, black and white or color. You might want to draw petals and leaves for a floral mandala. If you need inspiration, study patterns in your surroundings for possibilities.

The Center (Bindu): Represents the starting point, the core of creation, and ultimate enlightenment.

The Circle: Symbolizes the wholeness of the self, the universe, and the cyclical nature of life.

Lotus Flower: Depicts purity, spiritual awakening, and balance.

Geometric Shapes (Squares/Triangles): Squares often represent the four directions (gates of the universe), while triangles signify, when pointing up, action and energy, or when down, creativity.

Ring of Fire: Represents wisdom and the transformation of consciousness.

Ring of Vajras (Thunderbolts): Symbolizes indestructible power, truth, and protection.

Deities/Buddhas: In Tibetan traditions, specific enlightened beings are placed within the mandala to represent aspects of the mind or stages of the path to wisdom.

If you’re not sure what patterns to apply, study the ones you like in other mandalas.

Choose the patterns that resonate with you, and combine them how you like.

Practice the patterns by themselves before putting them on a circle.

Buddhist sand mandalas.

For centuries, Tibetan Buddhist monks have made these cosmic diagrams out of colored sand. As they place each grain of sand intentionally using metal funnels and sticks, monks enter a flow state. When they approach the center point of the artwork, they experience the transcendence of Self and the reality of a universe in which all beings are free from suffering. Then, after days or weeks of labor, they practice nonattachment and demonstrate the impermanence of all things by destroying the mandala.

Hindu mandalas.

Also called yantras, mandalas came to Hinduism from Buddhism. Traditional yantras are square, with a gate on each side around a center circle that contains one of the Hindu gods. Through the meditative creation of a mandala, the artist summons that god to help them discover cosmic truths.

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