Friday, March 28, 2014

Have you ever made a mandala?

I often make mandalas,

but this one isn't new. Do you have a certain way of doing them? From where do you get the inspiration to do one?
Most times I just sit down and make them. Sometimes I've made some for friends and that is always a challenge, I'll try to make them personal and fit the situation given. The one I show you today were inspired from the morning radio news. They were talking about how to get the youths, that are finished school, an apprenticeship. Too few companies are willing to hire an apprentice, and that's too bad. How on earth can the youths start working if no one are willing to give them a chance?
This was what inspired me, and I called my piece: Learning before flying.


I always start to draw my mandala, I don't use a compass any more, but I like to draw help lines. Top to bottom, side to side and both ways diagonal. That gives me the center and I have eight lines to work from. Any pointed star or flower have their points measured from the center, the rest is free handed. The above photo shows a finished drawing.

Next step is to get some paint down, and while painting I might prepare for later steps by adding some darker spots (shadows). In this particular one I used Neocolors 2 for painting. It is at this point all the fun starts, for me.


The pen work is what gives the final form to all  the elements used. I always try to be as accurate as possible to achieve the best result. Often there will be contradictions, and I'll have to think over again. But that's part of the fun.


Last step is the shading, and the shading is what lifts my subjects from the paper. It always thrills me to see a successful work rising from the paper and people always, without exception, want to touch it to assure themselves that it really is flat.


Thank you for visiting, I hope you enjoyed it and happy PPF everyone!

22 comments:

  1. I haven't made any mandalas for years, yours are beautiful. Valerie

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  2. Amazing mandala...wonderful depth...truly impressive work. Thanks for sharing your process!

    Hugs Giggles

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  3. wow such a gorgeous mandala Laila. In the UK my daughter works for a company called BIS who have been offering apprenticeship training along with a £100 bonus, sadly to say very few young people took it up. Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  4. Hi Laila. Your mandala is perfect. Thank you for the lesson. I've yet to "really" try to paint a mandala. You've inspired me though and perhaps in the near future may try again. Great work. Thanks and Happy PPF!

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  5. I love your mandalas! They're so colorful and beautiful. I haven't ever made one before but it's on my wish list of things to try. Hugs! Wendy

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  6. An especially gorgeous mandala Laila! Luv the design and so fitting to the subject. I agree with you 200 % , we need more companies to step forward and let youth have a start in a career by letting them take on an apprenticeship and start the wheels turning .Your mandala is a perfect symbol to conveying this very important message.Nicely done.

    Annabelle

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  7. Hi Laila! What a beautiful mandala. I have never drawn one. And yours does look 3D! Hugs and Happy PPF!

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  8. This is gorgeous and yes so much depth, enjoyed the walk through process of its creation, have a nice weekend

    Much love...

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  9. I have never made a mandala but your guide has really great tips. I love the progress pics! And the final is beautiful and also those faces - so CUTE!

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  10. Oh you made the most beautiful Mandala! I love making them too! Thanks for the progression pics!! Love the shading you did.

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  11. Wow, that process is amazing to see! All the steps add something to it, but the contrast between the before and after shading is really wonderful. thanks so much for explaining the steps. You make it look and sound so easy but I know it's not ...

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  12. This is amazing!! I love the detail. Thank you for taking the time to photo all the steps.

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  13. Really wonderful! I love how the painting progressed from a simple line drawing to a painting with so much depth! You are so talented!

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  14. Wow that mandala is something special... I loved seeing the stages you went through to get such a wonderful end product... Fascinating...xx

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  15. Beautiful mandala. Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  16. I've never done a mandala, but yours is a stunner! Wow! Love the colors and the striping effects!

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  17. Looks beautiful and great choice of colors! Happy PPF!

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  18. Mandalas are magic or the artists such as yourself, who make them are! Just stunning and an awesome process to see, thanks for sharing.

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  19. Wow very pretty. So much magical detail.
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  20. Wow the detail and colors are wonderful! This piece is so inspiring! Happy Ppf!

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  21. OH that is absolutely fabulous!! I love the shading and the ink work. Just stunning!

    I have never made one, but I keep threatening to.. lol!

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  22. I LOVE your mandala! I also love it to draw mandalas but I've never created such a beautiful one like your's! It's wonderful!

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