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Mandala
Objectives
To
gain experience with various color schemes.
To
understand the historical and cross-cultural significance of symbols
and mandala designs.
Project
Overview
Your
challenge is to plan and execute a mandala, utilizing a particular
color scheme. It should employ a radial or four-way
symmetrical design and be derived from your own vocabulary of
symbols.
Project
References
Personal
research in books and on the internet
"The Mandala as an Art Form," (ch. 3 from Mandala) by Jose and Miriam Arguelles
Excerpt from Black Elk Speaks by John G. Neihardt (ch. 17 "The First Cure")
"The Mandala as an Art Form," (ch. 3 from Mandala) by Jose and Miriam Arguelles
Excerpt from Black Elk Speaks by John G. Neihardt (ch. 17 "The First Cure")
Natural
mandala designs (iris of the eye, sea urchin, snowflake,
cross-section of a twig…)
See
also:
--Hindu Sri Yantra
--Chinese Mirror
--Celtic Knots
--Cathedral Rose Windows
--Navajo Sandpaintings
--English Knot Garden Designs
--Tibetan Sand Mandalas
--Chinese Mirror
--Celtic Knots
--Cathedral Rose Windows
--Navajo Sandpaintings
--English Knot Garden Designs
--Tibetan Sand Mandalas
A
good basic overview of the fundamentals of color theory can be found
at ColorMatters
Color
is explained in terms of hue, saturation, and value here
Diagrams
of various color schemes can be found here
Vocabulary
Mandala:
a symbol of the universe in a radial design; a visual image for
meditation and psychology; a natural and
cross-cultural design phenomenon.
Mandala
is a Sanskrit compound word of Manda, which means "essence,"
and a suffix la, meaning "container" or "possessor."
Thus mandala means "A Container of Essence" or "Sphere
of the Essence." Mandala is also a Sanskrit word
for "circle." From this etymology, the mandala shares a
common characteristic of having a center or axis and directional
headings.
radial
symetry, concentric, organic, geometric, cultural context.
Materials
Bristol
or illustration board (no less than 14" in one direction, no
more than 24" in one direction) any 2D media (colored
pencil, paint, collage, photocopies, fabric, ink, etc.)
Process
Preliminary:
1.
Before coming to class, review the thematic concept of Identity
as found on the website. Also read the discussion on Color
for
Unit VII.
2.
Research
mandalas in the library and/or on the Internet. Keep in mind that
mandala designs are a cross- cultural phenomenon. The
following website is a good place to start because it has links going
in many directions:
http://www.abgoodwin.com/mandala/index.shtml
Exercise:
1. Make some sketches for your own mandala design. Collect materials and images you might use in the final piece. Remember to use a radial design with concentric shapes. Consider dividing your page into quadrants. Include contrast of organic and geometric shapes. The outside shape of your piece can be a circle, a square or a rectangle.
1. Make some sketches for your own mandala design. Collect materials and images you might use in the final piece. Remember to use a radial design with concentric shapes. Consider dividing your page into quadrants. Include contrast of organic and geometric shapes. The outside shape of your piece can be a circle, a square or a rectangle.
OPTIONAL:
Try translating some of your ideas using the computer and Photoshop.
2.
Create a mandala design that serves as a diagram for your universe,
your world view. The visual content of the piece can be literal
or symbolic, realistic or abstract. Consider carefully the
implications of your work and be prepared to take
responsibility for what you present.
Critique
Ideas
When
you have completed your composition, divide into small groups and
exchange artworks with another group
from
the class. Within your group, work together to respond to each print
in turn. Consider the following:
1. Describe the techniques for creating radial designs your fellow artists used and explain how various effects were achieved.
1. Describe the techniques for creating radial designs your fellow artists used and explain how various effects were achieved.
2.
Point out any personal symbols the artist used to indicate a
particular meaning.
3.
Discuss ideas the artwork seems to communicate. After some sharing of
interpretations, attempt to state the message of the
composition in one sentence. (This artwork is about. . .)
4.
Explain how the use of color, shapes, symbols, or other elements of
the composition support its message.
Notebook
Checklist
□ Clean
and Organized
□ Turned in on Time
□ Turned in on Time
□ Discussion
Page on Color
□ Project
Objectives
□ Concept
Page on Identity
□ Vocabulary
□ Vocabulary
□ Research
□ Mandala Sketches
□ Mandala Sketches