Mandala Art: the complete guide
Mandala Art: the complete guide
From India to Tibet, from China to Japan to many Latin American countries, mandalas have had different interpretations and uses throughout history.
The word mandala derives from Sanskrit and can be literally translated as circle, center, or even unity. These symbols can take on different configurations, such as circular, square or other shapes, but they always share the characteristic of being built around a central point.
In recent years, mandalas have gained significant popularity due to the growing interest in mental and physical well-being. They are artistic and spiritual symbols with ancient origins, found in numerous cultures worldwide.
From India to Tibet, from China to Japan to many Latin American countries, mandalas have had different interpretations and uses throughout history.
The most common form of mandala is a circular design symbolizing the universe and the deep connection between the cosmos and humanity.
As it has been said: "In the mandala, the configuration of a space oriented around a central point has been established because everything originates from the center."
Origins and History of Mandala Art
The long history of mandalas, which reflects the core notions of "wholeness" and "universal dramas," is often depicted in patterns like a square subdivided into smaller squares.
The long history of mandalas reflects the core notions of "wholeness" and "universal dramas," often depicted in patterns like a square subdivided into smaller squares arranged around a central one, or a circle inscribed within a square and additional circles in progressive numerical sequences.
If we analyze the layouts of many Indian temples and Buddhist stūpas (reliquary monuments), we find these exact sequences.
The term maṇḍala was used in ancient Indian writings to denote the set of foreign states by which a kingdom or, rather, a king was surrounded, as well as being used for spiritual and meditative purposes.
In Tantric writings, from the 6th century onwards, the term “maṇḍala” begins to denote a sacred space, often circular in shape, but also triangular or quadrangular, into which the deities are invited by means of precise mantras — repetitive, chant-like prayers — that create a kind of sound loop that encourages meditation.
Il termine maṇḍala compare in diverse tradizioni religiose del subcontinente indiano, con particolare rilievo nella cultura buddhista.
The term maṇḍala appears in several religious traditions of the Indian subcontinent, with particular prominence in Buddhist culture, where it is often used to describe complex geometric diagrams made from different materials, utilized in ritual or meditative practices.
Mandala Art in Buddhism
In Buddhism, mandalas represent a symbolic version of the microcosm of the universe, created to foster inner calm and spiritual peace.
Tradition dictates that these elaborate designs, often made with colored sand, are meant to be destroyed after completion. This seemingly drastic gesture symbolizes the impermanence of the world and life, reflecting the continuous cycle of creation and destruction.
The act of destroying a mandala, despite the meticulous care required in its creation, is a meaningful ritual. By dismantling the mandala, monks learn to detach from material things and accept the transitory nature of life—a fundamental principle of Buddhist philosophy. Nothing is eternal, and this awareness becomes a liberating exercise.
In India, mandalas have been used for centuries in both Buddhism and Hinduism. Their creation and contemplation were believed to facilitate profound meditative states and heightened awareness. Tibetan Buddhist monks perfected the art of sand mandalas, using natural pigments to create intricate designs, which were later destroyed to reaffirm the ephemeral nature of all things.
In China and Japan, mandalas have also found their way into religious traditions, such as Buddhism and Taoism. Here, they represented the cosmos and the connections between its various dimensions, emphasizing the harmony between the universe and humanity.
Mandala Art in other religions and cultures
In Latin America, indigenous peoples created mandalas using natural materials such as stones and sand to celebrate the deep connection with the earth and the cosmos.
Mandalas, found in many ancient cultures, do not have a specific time of origin or peak development, but there are historical periods in which they assumed particular importance.
In India, their use dates back to the ancient Indus Valley civilization in the 3rd millennium BCE. Between the 7th and 12th centuries, mandalas gained great importance in Buddhist and Hindu art and spirituality, flourishing in India's rich architectural and artistic traditions.
In Tibet, sand mandalas were introduced by Buddhist monks from the 7th century onwards. However, their widest diffusion occurred with the Gelugpa dynasty, starting in the 17th century.
In China, mandalas profoundly influenced visual arts, such as painting and calligraphy, especially during the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE). In Chinese Buddhism, the use of mandalas became firmly established during the Song dynasty (960–1279 CE).
In Japan, mandalas were introduced along with Buddhism in the 6th century. The Heian period (794–1185 CE) saw the creation of some of the most famous mandalas, such as the Mandala of the Pure Land Garden, which reflects a profound spiritual and artistic richness.
In Latin America, mandalas held significance even in pre-Columbian times. During the colonial period, despite repression of indigenous art, their use continued as a representation of spiritual connection with the natural world.
These universal symbols have crossed cultures and continents, from India to Tibet, China, Japan and Latin America, adapting to different cultural contexts. In modern Western art and spirituality, mandalas remain tools for meditation and reflection.
Despite variations in form and meaning, all mandalas share the same idea of representing the cosmos and the universal interconnectedness through circular designs. Their history testifies the deep connection of human beings with the universe and emphasises the importance of art and spirituality in the journey of humanity.
Mandala Art: the meaning behind the drawings
A mandala is not just an artistic or symbolic drawing but a sacred space created by the meditator to contemplate the invoked divinity.
In Hinduism and Buddhism, it is believed that following the path to the centre of the mandala leads through a cosmic process of transformation, from suffering to happiness.
In the Buddhist tradition, monks make vibrantly coloured sand mandalas, temporary works that embody the ephemeral nature of life and the importance of the present moment.
In the West, mandalas are often used as a creative tool with therapeutic effects, helping individuals meditate, learn, and heal. Drawing or colouring a mandala allows one to relax, relieve stress and depression, and fosters connection with one's inner world.
This practice can also boost self-esteem, as it represents a creative and spiritual activity accessible to everyone.
Creating a mandala involves filling a circle with geometric shapes and colors reflecting personal emotions. For instance, triangles symbolize transformation, squares stability, blue represents calm, and red embodies vital energy.
This simple yet profound activity has gained popularity, partly due to art therapy and the rise of mandala-inspired coloring books and tattoos, symbols of perfection and deep self-discovery.
The mandala is a spiritual and psychological tool that helps one to focus, letting outer space flow away to concentrate on the details. In Tibetan Buddhism, it is a symbol of cosmic and psychic order, and can be seen outwardly as a visual representation of the universe, or inwardly as a guide for meditation practices.
The pioneer of psychoanalysis Carl Jung introduced the therapeutic use of the mandala as a symbol of the self. Drawing or colouring a mandala allows one to project emotions and experiences, giving back an image of one's emotional state: when one is in harmony, the mandala reflects balance and serenity.
In holistic culture, mandalas are closely linked to the chakras, the energy centres of the body. Drawing them helps to balance energy, live in the present and deepen self-knowledge, facilitating the management of inner fears.
This practice can also reveal hidden artistic talents, offering a source of harmony and inner peace.
Coloring mandalas is more than a relaxing activity—it stimulates both brain hemispheres: the right, linked to creativity and intuition, and the left, responsible for logic, order, and symmetry. This mental balance promotes well-being, self-confidence, and greater focus on the external world.
For children, mandalas are particularly helpful in managing hyperactivity and attention disorders. They stimulate imagination and foster the creation of a positive, personalized inner world, providing physical and mental benefits.
Mandala Art: how to start colouring a Mandala?
The best way to approach colouring a mandala and achieve a relaxing and beneficial effect is to follow your instincts when choosing the design.
Letting yourself be guided by your own natural inclination towards an inspiring image is the first step towards obtaining maximum benefit from this practice.
Today, numerous mandala books are available for both children and adults. Flipping through their pages, one can find the one that most resonates with one's mood.
It is not uncommon to see managers or people with busy lives colouring mandalas while waiting in airports or stations, recognising its effectiveness as stress-relieving activity.
The coloring techniques are many and adaptable to one’s creativity and preferred tools: pencils, markers, brushes, tempera, or acrylic paints. The choice of tool depends on one's mood and the availability of the moment.
The simplest technique is intuitive coloring, allowing instinct to guide color choices without predefined rules in order to achieve a free and spontaneous experience.
Another option is coloring from the outside toward the center, symbolizing a journey from chaos to clarity—a choice particularly suitable for those who wish to improve concentration and reduce stress.
On the contrary, starting from the center and moving outward stimulates creativity and exploration, offering a sense of progressive construction—a technique useful for developing logical and compositional skills.
Coloring mandalas is also an artistic activity that fosters creativity and personal expression. While many mandalas are geometric, choosing colors, blending shades, and applying artistic techniques like chiaroscuro can create unique and personal works.
This process not only develops artistic skills but also stimulates imagination and the ability to express emotions and thoughts through art.
Colouring a mandala is, therefore, a complete experience that combines creativity, relaxation and introspection.
Mandala Art: Mandala coloring techniques
The techniques for coloring mandalas can be many:
Mandala Art: Shading
Shading techniques that involve using colored pencils or pastels to create smooth transitions of color within the mandala designs.
This can give the drawing a sense of depth and a three-dimensional feel. The same technique can be achieved with tempera or acrylic paints and the help of special micro-painting brushes made of natural or synthetic bristles, allowing for subtle gradient transitions in small areas.
Ideal for this purpose are the 106 series brushes in natural Kolinsky sable from Borciani e Bonazzi: the "retouch" tip has a unique conical shape that holds a lot of paint and features a very small point for precision detailing and micro-filling.
Kolinsky sable bristles are elastic and release color slowly, helping maintain control for these intricate works of art.
A synthetic alternative to natural bristles is the 626 series made with synthetic MKS Kolinsky sable, which offers similar performance and the same type of tip.
Mandala Art: Overlapping
Overlapping techniques involving the use of different colours with an overlapping effect of shapes within the mandala.
This adds a sense of movement and dynamism to the design. Watercolor pencils and crayons are practical options, but the overlapping effects achieved with watercolors are far more creative and interesting.
When using diluted tempera or watercolors, the tools needed are soft brushes with light fibers that release water slowly and do not scratch the paper, along with precise tips.
Ideal for this are the synthetic gold brushes with "retouch" tips from the 10 series by Borciani e Bonazzi, which are very practical due to their short handles.
For more advanced watercolor techniques, the flame-shaped tip of the 855 UNICO Infinito Mini series offers excellent results, even for beginners.
Mandala Art: Pointillism
Pointillism techniques involve using fine-pointed pencils or markers to create a series of small coloured dots within the mandala.
This technique adds texture and depth to the drawing. For acrylic paints, or even enamels, brushes with very small, rigid tips that perform like a pen are ideal for achieving this effect.
The 605 Top Graphic Il Preciso series brushes by Borciani e Bonazzi, made with Dark Red Violet Fibre, are perfect for this type of coloring. Their micro-tips, available in sizes as small as 20/0, can precisely deposit paint and create tiny dots to highlight the work.
These are just some of the most common mandala colouring techniques, but there are many others that can be used to create unique and customised miniature works of art.
The meaning behind the colors for Mandala Art
In psychotherapy, coloring mandalas can represent a form of expressive therapy, allowing individuals to communicate through drawings and colors what they cannot express in words.
This approach promotes greater self-awareness, strengthens identity, and helps build self-confidence.
Often, mandala coloring is used as a relaxation technique. To enhance this effect, understanding the meanings of colors can be helpful:
- Red: Symbolizes energy and vitality but can also express aggression or anger. It's ideal for releasing repressed emotions but should be avoided when seeking tranquility.
- Yellow: Represents wisdom, warmth, and joy. It signifies conviviality and sunlight, bringing warmth to relationships and the spirit.
- Black: Evokes strong emotions, both positive and negative, such as psychological blockages or feelings of protest. It's a bold color reflecting determined personalities.
- Blue: A cool tone inspiring calm and introspection. Its various shades are perfect for fostering reflection and serenity.
- White: Represents peace, freedom, and mental clarity. Like black, it is an absolute color, ideal for clearing the mind.
- Green: Symbolizes nature, calmness, and fertility. It represents harmony with the external world and inner peace.
- Orange: Expresses creativity, youth, and change. Combining the energy of red and the joy of yellow, it spreads cheerfulness.
- Pink: A symbol of femininity, romance, and the inner child in everyone. It is a positive and relaxing color, ideal for transitioning emotions.
- Purple: The color of mystery and spirituality. It is perfect for freeing dreams and transcending the material world.
Each color, therefore, is not just an aesthetic element but a tool to express and regulate emotions, contributing to mental and spiritual well-being.
Mandala Art: Borciani e Bonazzi Artists
Over the years, Borciani e Bonazzi has had the pleasure of collaborating with talented artists who specialize in Islamic art and mandalas, two disciplines requiring precision and attention to detail.
Among them, Ailin Plakalo and Sandy Kurt are two artists who use our brushes for extraordinary works.
Ailin Plakalo is renowned for her intricate Islamic art creations, while Sandy Kurt stands out for her skill in mandala art.
Both artists appreciate the quality and versatility of our brushes, which support their meticulous and refined techniques.
These collaborations with Ailin and Sandy exemplify the company’s ongoing pursuit of excellence and innovation in the fine arts sector.
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