To me, art has always been my channel for relaxation. Despite the massive time commitment that art projects may have, drawing and painting have helped me calm down and take a break from the hectic schedules that all of us have.
The Mandala (Sanskrit for “circle” or “completion”) has a long history and is recognized for its deep spiritual meaning and representation of wholeness. Mandalas, by their symmetrical form and balanced colors, can immediately calm down your mind by the very look of it. In high school, I would enjoy making mandalas but as time progressed, I started giving more thought to how the mandalas are also representative of a sense of balance and structure that should operate in my life as well. Making every circle in a mandala at calculated distances is significant in making calculated decisions in life. While the overall form is symmetrical, the intricate details within individual components are asymmetrical and messy, pointing towards the idea that we will be able to find a sense of balance amidst all the chaos. The choice of colors when making a mandala is also therapeutic. Actually, it is initially overwhelming for me to choose the correct color. When the color balance is off, I feel frustrated till I find the perfect fit but when I do, all the frustration is converted to fulfillment. In life too, I believe that sometimes you just have to wait for the right moment and the worst day can become the best one in a few moments.
Now that I know Illustrator, maybe I will try to recreate the Mandalas I have previously drawn digitally and see where the process takes me.
