By Laurel O'Keefe STAFF WRITER
You’ve seen them before in coloring pages or on tapestries, but drawing mandalas can be a relaxing activity and an enriching personal experience. Mandalas stem largely from Indian culture, as they are a spiritual symbol in Indian religions where they often represent the universe. For the drawer, mandalas can be designed to represent a state of mind or desires and can be drawn as a form of meditation.
The detailed abstract designs typically take a circular shape, but the best thing about designing them is the creative freedom they offer. Mandalas require minimal guidelines and, while they appear complex, drawing them is easier than it looks. If you understand symmetry and can draw simple shapes, you can easily draw a mandala with a little practice.
For materials, all you need is a pen or marker, paper and a ruler or compass. Thin sharpies or fine-point markers can be used to define lines and will allow you to create more detail, but for the minimalists, any writing utensil will do. Colors are also optional, but for beginners I find it easier to stick to one color.
Step One: measure your paper into a square. The larger the square, the bigger the mandala and the more room for detail. To skip this step, you can purchase square paper at a craft store, I prefer the 67-cent 8 by 8 sheet.
Step Two: Use a ruler to find the center of your paper and draw a dot or a small circle there.
Step Three: This step is optional, but may appeal to those with practical minds. Some artists like to create a grid to plan out the size of each ring or layer, which they can then fill in the gaps with smaller designs. This can be done by outlining differently-sized circular objects around your dot or by drawing circles with a compass. I advise beginners to try this method, especially those who are concerned about symmetry and drawing shapes uniformly.
Step Four: Choose a shape to draw surrounding your center dot. Flower petals, triangles, half circles or ovals are typical options. Be sure to draw your shapes the same size and an equal distant apart; it helps to turn your page as you go.
Step Five: Build upon your first shape. You can draw a circle around your entire first layer and start a new shape or connect the two shapes directly. For example, if you chose to start with triangles, you could draw half circles or arches connecting the tips of your triangles. You can alternate drawing multiple shapes in one layer. If you get stuck or want more rings, draw a circle around your entire design and start fresh. Repeat this step until your mandala is as big as you want it.
Step Six: Add details. Fill in your petals with swirls, your triangles with stripes or border your main shapes with smaller ones by outlining them. These smaller details shouldn’t be as thickly drawn as your main shapes and should coordinate with your layers. For example, if you chose to detail a triangle with stripes, the entire ring of those triangles should also get them.
Don’t get discouraged if your mandala doesn’t come out perfectly on the first try. If you mess up one detail, don’t worry, most mistakes aren’t noticeable in the end and are easily covered up by filling in shapes and changing your design slightly. Don’t forget that your mandala is unique; there is no particular way it is supposed to look. Listen to music for inspiration while you draw or sit outside with a sketchbook to relax, or doodle mindlessly while watching “Parks and Recreation” repeats (like I do). The more you practice drawing mandalas, the cleaner and more intricate your designs will become and the more they will reflect your mind. Happy drawing!