Fun technique for finding new shapes

This is that post where I realize that I haven’t bothered to post in two months. Ugh.  Setting a goal to post at least once a week.  I’ve been doing art though.  I’m still pretty stoked with the Tombow pens.  I also picked up a couple of Fluid Easy Block 8”x8” cold press pads to do mandalas on with Sharpie and Tombows.  I’m ordering a couple of other sizes online that I didn’t see in the store - and I’m going to try some hot press paper, as I think the smoothness would be better for the detail work I’m trying to do.  The 8”x8” size pads have proved really portable for me though - and has pretty much replaced my zendoodling.  Check out my new gallery to see what I've been working on.

I’m really trying to play with colors that I wouldn’t normally choose and shapes that are not typical.  It still amazes me that every mandala, even though they all start with the same circle and (usually) eight points, comes out completely and utterly different.  I do find myself using at least a few elements over and over again, and I’m working to find ways to make them different or to embellish them with fills and edges that I normally would not use.  

So here’s a technique that can get you out of your same 3 elements over and over rut.  I did not create this technique, I saw it on a video by Prema Akasha and then kind of ran with it in a slightly different way.

Start with a tiny circle.  Add 8 dots around the edge.  Make a line or shape in each space.  Turn the paper as you go.  Continue drawing something on the end of each spoke of this wheel.   Sometimes I’ll use letters - I, L, O, V, C, U, M, N, T S, D, W, Y are good ones.  Also circles, squares, triangles, hearts, diamonds and other shapes as well.  

Once you have your spokes with at least 3 elements, start connecting pieces back to the center.  Use straight lines, curves, wiggly lines, dots, circles, whatever you can think of to make your connections. You can start a new set of items on the ends of your elements.  Continue as long as you wish (or till you run out of paper!)  Don’t forget to add fill and detail, and subdivide the new elements you are creating if you wish.  You can emphasize and highlight with a thicker pen once you have your main shape as well.

This exercise will likely help you find new elements to use in your drawings and I can almost guarantee that you will be amazed at the detail and depth of your drawing from using this technique.  I sometimes will use it to go forward on an in progress mandala that I’m stuck on deciding the next element.  It is also very very meditative to me for some reason, I think because I just have to connect what I’ve added rather than decide on an entire shape to use for the element.   Here is a sample of a few tiny quick mandalas created with this method.

I also like this technique for quick doodles when I just have a pencil and a short amount of time and want to make something cool really fast.  Hope you will try it, it will help you expand your element base for your mandalas for sure!

Changing shape

I spent a couple of days last week at a spa with a friend.  It was wonderful, of course!  I always enjoy drowning myself in the fancy showers and soaking in the various pools.  Got a great (and relaxing!) massage, but mostly had some great girl time with my friend.  Although we both agreed that the steam room there was very scary!  We went in once and decided that it was too terrifying when the steam came on!

I brought some supplies with me of course, but I only did one mandala during the trip.  After looking at all the carpets and architectural details in the hotel we stayed in, I decided to start playing with some different shapes than what I normally use in my drawings.   Nothing too exciting, just not the normal shapes I usually add as I go around the circle.   I was really happy with the results and did a second painting this morning.

One of the things I like about drawing mandalas is the way that it is repetitive and consistent.  I draw as meditation, not for end product.  So that means that sometimes my work is not quite perfect - I go past the ends of my lines, my hands shake and my curves are not perfect.  I certainly could use a compass and curve and ruler, but I like the energy that going freehand gives to my work and I think that's what makes it personal and mine.  I know there are a lot of amazing artists who do use tools or have a steadier hand and make more intricate and perfect work than mine.  And that's okay with me!  I think that whatever you create is so much better when it comes from within.

Speaking of meditation, I did A LOT of that during my trip.  So far my meditation practice has only involved drawing or painting.  Now I'm doing what most folks would call "real" meditation, with being mindful of my breathing and all that.  I'm liking it!  Though I find it really tough to keep my mind calm. I'm much calmer if I have something that uses my energy the way the drawing does, but I suppose that's not the point; drawing still involves some sort of thinking and decision making. But I am committed to giving it a go and making it a practice for awhile.  I'm gonna keep drawing and painting as well. 

Still playing with the Tombows

It's been a few crazy weeks since I started playing with my new Tombow markers.  I went and bought a couple more colors and finally got to play with the colorless blender.  Didn't really love it.  Instead, I picked up a Niji Water Pen.  Now that, I love!!  It's a nice portable way to watercolor without the mess and with A LOT more control.  I love that the brush is nice a tight, it's great for what I do which is really just glorified coloring.

I also picked up brand new fine and super fine black Sharpies so that I could put in the kind of detail that I like to do when I draw my mandalas.  My old ones were just not alive enough to put down enough ink on the watercolor paper (guessing they were kind of old...)

Great detail finally!!

Almost done!

Finished!

Also added a bit of detail to a few of my existing paintings, since these Sharpies actually work! Also played with using a white gel pen for detail on the darker areas; it gets sucked up by this paper, so the result is very subtle.  I think it's kind of cool!

Time has been flying and I haven't had time to break out the acrylics lately, but being able to be portable with the markers and water pen has allowed me to keep creating art despite not having much time.   I'll just leave you with a couple more that I finished.  Hopefully next time I'll have a new acrylic and something more interesting to share!  What kind of art are you making this week?

Love the way this mandala turned out!