Analyzing Mandalas

I used the basic design principles and art elements to analyze the basic construct of a mandala in its most simplistic form.

While I was busy contemplating how I was going to draw my mandala, I decided that the best way was to go back to the basics. That is why I decided to analyze the most simplistic form of the mandala. I looked purely at the structure of the mandala and not the meaning behind the image.

Line

The first art element that I looked at was line. I decided to start with a line because this is what the designer uses to divide the mandalas into different sections to create the pattern. These guidelines are not always seen in the final design as they are more used for planning and layout. The mandala is usually divided up into 8 sections, but it could be more or less depending on how much guidance you need when drawing.

But lines are not only used for construction purposes, but also decorative purposes. Lines are used to creating various types of patterns or add detail to other elements of the mandala. Variation is achieved in mandalas by using lines of varying thickness. Thick lines are used for emphasising a certain section of the mandala. Whereas thinner lines are mostly used to add finer details. Different types of patterns can be creat using different types of lines. Lines can also be used to add depth to a mandala by making certain elements appear darker and certain elements appear lighter. This can be achieved by using a variety of different methods. I prefer the hatching method when I am drawing mandalas.

Shape and form

I decided to combine shape and form in my analysis because they usually go hand in hand. The main structure of a mandala consists of a circle but some variations include a square that is encompassed with a circle. For this body of work that I am doing, I decided to stick with the plain circle mandala.

Other shapes that can be found in the mandala designs include both geometric and organic shapes, depending on the message that the designer wants to convey. These shapes and forms are used to create intricate patterns in mandalas. These shapes and forms can be recognizable images that have certain meanings or they can be organic shapes used to fill the empty spaces. The geometric and organic shapes are usually used in combination to create contrast in the mandala.

Color

Color is very important in mandalas. Each color has a specific meaning according to different cultures. Choosing the correct colors to convey your message is very important since each culture takes its own terminology and guidelines.

Black or white is usually used for the outlines of a mandala. Or it can be used to block out certain shapes for emphasis. In the mandalas that I will be drawing for my first body of work, I will be outlining in black using a variety of different pens and markers. This will allow me to create different effects throughout the mandala.

Space

When looking at artworks, space refers to the area that is between, around, above, below, and within an object. WIth mandalas, the surrounding space is usually empty and this brings the focus to the intricate patterns within the mandala. the more traditional mandalas are very complex and leave almost no space. But the more modern mandalas manipulate the space with the design a lot more, making it seem 3D sometimes.

When speaking to my mentor, she mentioned that traditionally the mandala was drawn in the top half of the paper. It was not centered in the middle of the paper. With my final artwork, I think I am going to follow this.

Balance

Balance in art refers to the visual weight of the objects. With mandalas, there is a radial balance since the whole design centers on the middle point of the mandala. When drawing a mandala you draw from the middle point outwards. Each "slice" of the mandala will look the exact same if you were to cut it into various pieces.

Mandalas are also symmetrical. What happens on the one side is identical to the other side, vertically and horizontally.

Pattern

A pattern is created when the same elements or objects are repeated over and over again. In the case of a mandala, the object or elements will be repeated in a circular way around the center point.

These patterns in a mandala differ from circle to circle. They can range from very complicated to very basic depending on the effect that you are going for. The traditional mandalas are very complex and each element is repeated in a certain way to convey a certain message. IF you change the pattern, you change the meaning.

Unity

Unity is what happens when there is a sense of cohesion in an artwork or a design. It creates a feeling of wholeness or completeness. It is also referred to as harmony in an artwork.

The outer circle of the mandala symbolizes that wholeness since it encapsulates all the elements on the inside of the design. This adds to the calming and relaxing nature of mandalas.