Mandalas are circular artistic representations that symbolize wholeness and the cosmic order of the universe. They appear throughout nature and in many world religions and cultures. To create a mandala, one begins with a circle and divides it into sections using radial lines, then fills the sections with balanced patterns and designs. Mandalas can be created using various media like paint, pencil, or mixed materials. They must be neatly made, show radial balance, use color schemes to convey a mood, and demonstrate control of the chosen art medium.

1. Mandalas

2. What is a Mandala?
• The word "mandala" is from the classical
Indian language of Sanskrit. It is loosely
translated to mean "circle," however, a
mandala is far more than a simple shape.
It represents wholeness, and can be seen
as a model for the organizational structure
of life itself--a cosmic diagram that
reminds us of our relation to the infinite,
the world that extends both beyond and
within our bodies and minds.

3. The Mandala
Describing both material and non-material
realities, the mandala appears in all
aspects of life: the celestial circles we call
earth, sun, and moon, as well as
conceptual circles of friends, family, and
community.

4. The Mandala in Nature
• From micro to macro
The "circle with a center" pattern is the basic structure of creation
that is reflected from the micro to the macro in the world as we know
it. It is a pattern found in nature and is seen in biology, geology,
chemistry, physics and astronomy.
• On our planet, living things are made of cells and each cell has a
nucleus -- all display circles with centers. The crystals that form ice,
rocks, and mountains are made of atoms. Each atom is a mandala.
• Within the Milky Way galaxy is our solar system and within our solar
system, is Earth. Each is a mandala that is part of a larger mandala.
• Flowers, the rings found in tree trunks and the spiraling outward and
inward of a snail's shell all reflect the primal mandala pattern.
Wherever a center is found radiating outward and inward, there is
wholeness--a mandala.

5. A cross-cultural
pattern
•The mandala pattern is used in
many religious traditions. Hildegard
von Bingen, a Christian nun in the
12th century, created many
beautiful mandalas to express her
visions and beliefs.
• In the Americas, Indians have created medicine wheels
and sand mandalas. The circular Aztec calendar was
both a timekeeping device and a religious expression of
ancient Aztecs.
• In Asia, the Taoist "yin-yang" symbol represents
opposition as well as interdependence. Tibetan
mandalas are often highly intricate illustrations of
religious significance that are used for meditation.

6. What type of balance is used here?

7. And here?

9. But, how do we begin a
Mandala?
Using a pencil, you begin by drawing a circle, then
using radial balance, break the circle into equal
sections.
Sections can be made using geometric or
organic lines
• Geometric lines being straight, angular,
precise, looks man-made
• Organic lines being free-form, loose, natural-
looking

10. Sections then need to be filled with additional
patterns and designs being very careful to keep
the entire circle well-balanced.
Planet Earth is
surrounded by 6
angels~Birth,Life,Death
,Body,Mind,&Spirit~All
connected, as we
are...If every tear shed
for this tragic day
flowed freely, surely the
river would have
washed all of the hate
from this world. The
rainbow encircling our
universe is a symbol of
God's promise, & never
ending love for us... A
reminder to be kind to
each other... Peace To
All

29. Accepted Media
You may use:
• crayon
• colored pencil, pencil
• ink, pen, marker
• Paint, watercolor, etc
• Mixed media (a mix of any of the above)

30. Requirements
Your mandala must be:
• Neatly and precisely completed
• Show good radial balance; 22”-30” diameter
• Show good color choices---use a color scheme
that enhances the mood which you want to
convey about Qindil in one of the lands OR
about YOU and a personal journey
• Show control of the media used
• 2-page typed written explanation
• Completed and presented by
Tues, Feb 1st