Mandala Meditations

Mom (Ann) mentioned a while ago that we are taking Jane Dunnewold's "Creative Strength Training" 10-month on-line program. One of the March exercises was drawing mandalas. I started with drawing mandalas in March and I haven't stopped yet. I'm drawing mandalas, coloring them in, painting them, and making beaded ones. I haven't done a big project with them like Mom, but I sure am enjoying making them. The circle gives me a starting place. If I need more structure, I divide the circle into pie slices with a ruler. If not, I just start doodling.

From drawing I got into playing with beads. One art project I did with toddler Tyler (now a 3 year old!) was to use circular memory wire. I twisted the end so there was something to stop the beads sliding off and then let Tyler play with some of my bigger beads. He surprised me by adding buttons that I had mixed in with the beads. It was funny to see my gut reaction was... "no, don't do that." Sadly, I had to hold myself back from stopping him. I'm glad I did.

Tyler's beaded mandalas

It took me a bit longer to make my own beaded mandala. Below is the first one that I have finished. I may take apart the other two that I started since they aren't as precise as I wanted. Maybe I need to work on not censoring myself either and just finish them. I haven't quite got the beading techniques and proportions of working in 3-D down as well as drawing. Maybe I should practice more...

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My most recent mandala fun was making watercolor cards. Who knew the compass from a college architectural drawing course would find a new purpose.
​~Sonja