20 May 2014

Mehndi Inspired Mandala Tutorial


MANDALA: Sanskrit, means circle. In religion and philosophy represents the whole, the universe. In Analytical Psychology represents the Self (C.G. Jung)
 MEHNDI: Hindi, the art of temporary henna tattoos, from the Sanskrit Menhika or henna plant.


For this tutorial I'm using:



This little page with the basic shapes I like using

Copyright © 2014 Maria Mercedes Trujillo A. All rights reserved.

The Process:
1. First I choose the colors I'm going to use (Lavender and Delft Blue don't come in the set pictured above, can be replaced by Dark Mauve Pink and Silver Gray)


2. I start always in the center, that way I can keep my mandala even, I don't use a compass or any template. Using my basic shapes page I choose to start with a spiral.


3. Now I add one of the borders.


4. Then I add petal shapes around the border.


5. I add some filling to the petal shapes. I start adding leaves.



6. Fill the leaves.


7. Add an outer adornment to the leaves and some circles on the spaces between them.


8. Add a border again.



 9. More leaves or petals, add fillings.



10. Outer adornment and little circles in the spaces between petals/leaves.



You can keep repeating from step 3, adding more elements from the basic shapes page or your own, making your mandala as big and complex as you want.

When you feel you have finished your mandala write the date.
It is perfectly fine if it doesn't turn up completely round and symmetrical, you will get there with practice.
It is a process to relax and have fun regardless of the end result.
Look at your mandala with love, you just made it and it is precious!
Keep all your mandalas even if you don't like them much, you can follow how they change with time.

If you have any question you can ask on the comments , send me an e-mail or through the contact form on the left of this blog.

Have fun!!!

Note: If you want to see how I draw a very similar mandala on a pebble, have a look at this video.

Please if you share about this tutorial link back to my site!!!


Some examples done following the steps on this tutorial.





50 comments:

  1. Maria! Thank you so much for this tutorial! It's wonderful & I see where you got some inspiration from the rock mandalas! Wonderful! I appreciate you sharing that video, and this great tutorial! Another reason to start ordering more art supplies! ♥♥☻

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    1. Minerva I'm glad you like my tutorial and my video!!! Thank YOU very much.

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  2. Adoro os teus mandalas! Obrigada pelo tutorial, tenho que experimentar um dia destes :-)

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  3. You have such a steady hand! Thanks so much for the tutorial--I feel like I can actually try this now!

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    1. Thank you julie! I think the steady hand is practice and good support ;)

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  4. merci beaucoup pour le partage et ta grande gentillesse
    ml

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    1. Soyez le bienvenu Marylaure!! Thanks for following my work.

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  5. Thats such a simple tutorial. As someone else also suggested, you have a very steady head; drawing a circle without an instrument, almost perfectly.
    This is also called Rangoli in India, and people in the south adorn their home entrances every morning with a fresh new piece of it.
    I am going to try one too. Never did a mandala on a paper yet. Thank you for the post.

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    1. Thank you chocos! When I'm drawing the circle, instead of looking at making a circle, I concentrate in the space between what I have already drawn and the curve line I'm making, does it make sense? Try it! ;) Do you make Rangoli? Is it the same as Kolam?

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  6. ¡Gracias por compartir tu magia Maga Merlina! :)

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  7. You make it sound so easy! I will definitely be trying this. Thanks so much.

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    1. you are welcome! You'll enjoy it Timaree, give it a try! ;)

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  8. Wow! Fantastic tutorial. My set of pens like those are around here somewhere... Maybe I will start with my Verithins. :-)

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    1. I just saw your mandala on Facebook, well done Laura!!!

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    2. Thank you! I think I will be making these for quite a while. :-) I love the way they come out - so many possibilities!

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    3. I've been drawing and painting mandalas for years and still love it! Be creative and enjoy Laura :)

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  9. wonderful tutorial! I shared it on Facebook. Thank you!

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    1. Thank you Jane! I'm glad you like it. Thanks for sharing it too.

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  10. Maria, merci !!! C'est un plaisir à regarder et ...donne envie de peindre à son tour... C'est très gentil de partager avec nous ces jolis moments...
    Dominique

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    1. Merci Dominique!! Fraces ne parlent pas, mais je peux comprendre votre message. Merci beaucoup à vous pour vos mots.
      I used google to reply ;)

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  11. I've recently started drawing mandalas and did a search for some different ideas and love yours so I will draw some based on your designs. Thank you.
    Elizabeth (Sydney, Australia)

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    1. Hi Elizabeth! That is great, I hope you draw lots of mandalas. Thank YOU :)

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  12. Thank you for the tutorial! I have made mandalas before, but do not have your steady hand. Your work is beautiful. Very inspiring!

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    1. Thank YOU very much Willow! The steady hand comes with practice, keep creating mandalas!! :)

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  13. Thanks for your tutorial, your art it's beautiful. What ink do you use to paint peables in your video?, I love it and I would love to try it.

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    1. Thank you! I used Daler-Rowney Acrylic Ink.

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  14. I truly appreciate your beautiful mandalas and how creative you are. I have a very dear friend, and I have wanted to something special for her, and with your help, I believe I have found the perfect gift. I can see how there can be so many different variations, and I am not sure whether I will put pen to paper, or attempt pebbles. I have attempted Zentangle, and I believe the two art forms could go very well together. Thank you again for sharing your art.

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    1. Thank you for your words!! You can do both, on pebbles and on paper ;)

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  15. Moltes gràcies per aquest tutorial. És genial! Des de llavors m he inspirat i he començat a practicar les seves mandales. Petons.

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  16. Muchisimas gracias!!!!!!!!

    Me encantan todos tus trabajos. Besos.

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    1. Con mucho gusto ara! Gracias a ti!!!! Besos.

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  17. Hola!
    Vi que te postean en castellano y como el inglés me cuesta, aquí voy.
    Varias veces había intentado dibujar mandalas pero sin buenos resultados así que había desistido. Te sigo en instagram y hace unos días encontré tu página y este tutorial y está excelente!!!! felicitaciones y muchas gracias por compartirlo!
    Soy orfebre y después de toda una tarde de seguir tus instrucciones y solo dibujar mandalas, al irme a dormir y cerrar los ojos ví en mi cabeza un colgante de plata con diseño de mandala y como cuando la inspiración llega hay que hacerle caso, empecé a trabajar en eso y ahora tengo mil visiones más!
    Pensaba subir un post bonito a mi tumblr contando el proceso de inspiración-creación (y aún pienso hacerlo, en cuanto termine), pero no me pude aguantar y subí una foto a instagram. Te menciono en los créditos (pero sin etiquetar por q no sabía si te molestaría), como parte de mi proceso creativo. Espero que no te moleste por que de ninguna manera quiero pasarte a llevar a tí o a tu trabajo (que me encanta, por cierto).
    Y eso... muchas gracias por compartir tu arte!
    Saludos, Paulina

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    1. Paulina tu historia me hace muy feliz!! Me encanta cuando se que he podido ayudar a que alguien cree algo.
      Me encantaría ver tu mandala! No lo encuentro en Instagram y me gustaría mucho si me etiquetaras.
      Muchas gracias por tus palabras y por compartirme tu historia.
      Español es mi lengua materna, soy Colombiana ;)

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    2. Que bueno que te parece bien! :) te acabo de etiquetar en instagram.
      Yo soy chilena y recién estoy aprendiendo inglés... y encuentro super maravilloso que el español sea tu lengua materna por que si tenía que traducir mi historia habría quedado en "I love your work y poco más" jajaja. En los próximo días sacaré fotos de mis mandalas y te envio el link por si quieres verlos.
      De nuevo muchas gracias!
      :)

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  18. This is perfect! Really good reference. Thanks so much :)

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  19. So so beautiful! Thank-you for inspiring!

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  20. I just ordered the pens. Thanks so much for the guidance.

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    1. Have lots of fun!!! Thank YOU for reading 😊

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  21. Thank you for sharing, I have wanted to do a mandala for ages and thought only artists could do them. Yours are beautiful and alive with energy. :)

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    1. Thank you very much Kim!! Everybody can do mandalas, I Hope you have many moments of joy drawing yours :)

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  22. What kind of paint do you use for the pebbles.

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    1. Acrylic Inks: Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Inks and Dr. Ph. Martin's Bombay Inks are my favorites.

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  23. What type of pen do you use for the peddles? It seems that the paint lasts a long time on the brush. Your hand is indeed steady! I am starting paint with dots with nail heads, toothpicks, etc. on beach rocks. It is so fun! Want to try freehand now. Thanks for sharing. You are an inspiration.

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    1. Cindi I use a dip pen with Hunt 512 nib and Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Ink.
      Thank you for your nice words!!!

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