All posts tagged: art

March Mandala Challenge: Scavenger Hunt Mandalas

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The topic for the March Mandala Challenge is Scavenger Hunt Mandala. I’m all about using what you already have to create mandalas. In this challenge, you’ll collect round shaped household items in various sizes to use as circle templates to create a mandala. It’s fun to look at every day familiar objects with a new lens. This challenge is to encourage you to play like you did when you were a kid. Have fun! Challenge Details Collect four or more objects that have a circle shape in various sizes. Do NOT use stencils for this challenge. It’s okay to use objects of other shapes for your mandala but you need at least four circles. Trace the circles starting with the largest circle to the smallest to create a progression of concentric circles. Use a straight edge to draw some guidelines and to break up the circle into four or more sections. Fill the circle with shapes, patterns, and colors. Use any medium. For more design ideas, download the first chapter of my book, “The Mandala Guidebook” at www.100mandalas.com/book …

Goddess Workshop

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Discover the goddesses within you. In this expressive arts workshop, Kathryn Costa brings three of her passions together: Mandalas, SoulCollage®, and Greek Mythology. Her storytelling style brings these classic stories to life and relates them to everyday situations. In this series you’ll meet seven feminine archetypes depicted in the Greek mythology: Aphrodite the lover, Hera the wife, Demeter the mother, Persephone the daughter and Goddess of the Underworld, Artemis the sister, Athena the strategist, and Hestia the wise woman and hearth keeper. Getting to know the goddesses activates their qualities and powers within you. And you’ll discover how to navigate and pair their powerful characteristics to best serve your aspirations and your relationships. You’ll explore the gifts of each Greek goddess while creating mandalas and/or SoulCollage® cards. EXPERIENCE: No art experience required for creating SoulCollage® cards. Basic drawing skills recommended for the mandala art. Or you are welcome to follow your muse to create goddess art using any medium and style of your choosing, such as visual journaling or mixed media. This online workshop includes: A …

Create a Mandala Shield

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Dear Mandala Family, Serendipity has been showing up again and again in many ways for me. A couple of months ago I designed a “virtues shield” that you’ll see further down on this post to go with a magazine article. Then, a couple of weeks ago I was reviewing the different projects for Stage Seven of the Great Round in Susanne Fincher’s book, “The Mandala Workbook” and came across a “mandala shield” project. How cool that what I had created for the magazine article was published in July the same month that we study Stage 7. I seem to be in synch! The mandala shield project is similar to a project that I learned about in my training to become a Virtues Project Facilitator. The prompts from the VP training are more specific than what Susanne offers in her book. Pictured above is the mandala shield that I created this week for myself. I started by drawing a circle, dividing it into four and drawing a circle at the center. In the upper left quadrant, I picked …

Four Artists Play: Mandala Art Inspired by The Mandala Guidebook

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I asked several artists who I greatly admire if they would review a copy of my book, “The Mandala Guidebook: How to Draw, Paint, and Color Expressive Mandala Art.” What is so much fun with these reviews is how each artist was inspired to play and create mandalas and they took the concepts and ideas from my book and made it their own. Michelle Ward I first “met” Michelle many years ago when I was first blogging and she was hosting creativity challenges on her blog. Through these challenge, Michelle inspired me to experiment with different mediums and techniques that show up in my mixed media mandalas today. In addition to loving Michelle’s design sensibility, I appreciate her process for finding inspiration everywhere and finding creative ways to translate that in her own style. Michelle writes, “If you have considered jumping into mandala making then I recommend seeking out Kathryn’s book.  It’s a wonderful introduction to the unique art form.” “[Kathryn] has a gentle yet enthusiastic voice that walks you through options for designing, embellishing, and adding color …

Mandala Guidebook Contributor – Donna Gentile

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Artist: Donna Gentile Location: Connecticut, USA Found on page: 133 Title of Art: Love Mandala Materials: Watercolor & ink on paper Donna, how has making mandalas been healing for you? I discovered mandalas during a time of trauma. They helped me process pain, overcome limiting beliefs and heal naturally. In the “Watercolor Love Mandala” featured here, I set the intention to attract “love” to bring peace, balance and harmony back to my heart, soul and life when I was the target of extreme anger, fear and controlling behavior. What happened to me is a part of my past story, but it doesn’t define me. Making mandalas helps me tell my new story, express gratitude, attract positive people, energy and things and make the transformations I desire in life. It allows me to celebrate my authentic self, focus, relax, set goals, connect and work through difficult thoughts and emotions. Mandalas are a powerful creative tool for personal growth and healing. Today, I live a vibrant, happy life teaching Mandala Art Workshops to inspire, empower and transform …

Hamsa Prayer Flag Peace Project

Hamsa Prayer Flag Peace Project

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Ten hamsa images designed by members of the 100 Mandalas Community were selected for this special prayer flag project. Each of these flags were colored by the artist and while they were working on them infused them with the intentions of goodwill and peace. May all who hang and enjoy these prayer flags receive our blessings. About the Hamsa Symbol The hamsa is a familiar symbol of the open palm that traditionally represents protection when the fingers are pointing upward and as a symbol of blessings when the palm is open and the fingers are pointing downward. Since the symbol of the hand is shared among many faiths including Jewish, Muslim, and Christians, the hamsa has become a symbol of peace in the Middle East. About Prayer Flags Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, which is a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into …