Tag Archives: radial lines

Participation in Circles Cycles Symbols Event

Originally my plan was to blog about my daily experiences in the Circles Cycles Symbols event as noted in my previous post. However, due to some different issues, I was not able to follow through as planned. On the bright side, I completed all of the exercises by the last day of the event (today).
Rather than making separate posts for each exercise I will summarize them below. Here goes!

Exercise 1 – Circles
Basic circle geometry
Basic circle geometry
 
Back to basics with Circle Geometry. This was a good refresher. The photo above is from my art journal entry and shows my efforts with this exercise. I like how adding splashes of color to highlight information made this simple exercise more artistic.
 
Exercise 2 – Concentric Rings
Concentric Rings
Concentric Rings
 
The exercise was to draw concentric rings starting at the center and radiating outwards. It helps with focus and is calming.
 
Concentric rings with descriptive words
Concentric rings with descriptive words

The prompt was to create a two page spread of concentric circles with matching descriptive words. I thought about tree rings, and how using tree ring dating can tell the history of a particular time and place.

 
Exercise 3 – Connections
Connections with radial lines
Connections with radial lines

A basic mandala grid can be formed by connecting the center and the circumference with radial lines.

 
Radial lines and concentric circles
Radial lines and concentric circles

Sections can be made large and small. The rays suggest the sun.

 
Exercise 4 – Combination Grid Mandala
Combination Grid
Combination Grid

Combining concentric circles, radial lines, and connections creates a more complicated and interesting mandala. Adding color can also create patterns. There are endless possibilities for different combinations with this star symbol mandala.

 
Exercise 5 – Two page spread
Twin Mandalas Spread
Twin Mandalas Spread

The final exercise was to draw  twin star symbol mandalas on facing pages. They are both variations on the same combination grid mandala from exercise 4. Notice how variations in lines, shapes, and colors can create different looking results!

The most important takeaways for me are:
  • Be present, and stay focused.
  • Don’t forget to breathe.
  • Let go of  worries about not being perfect. There is beauty in imperfection.
  • Stay true to your self and to your aesthetic.
  • Don’t be afraid to experiment.

This was a valuable learning experience for me, and I hope that anyone else who participated in the event found it rewarding! I highly recommend Mandala Magic School to anyone interested in learning more about the mandala art form. And definitely take advantage of any FREE workshops offered in the future.