Ocean Speak
Drawing mandalas has long been one of my favorite ways to meditate – to slow down and organize my thoughts into patterns. Ballpoint pen has always been my preferred medium, generally just black or blue.
I drew them often in my early 20s, but hadn't sketched one in many years. Then, whilst in Varanasi in early 2010, I had the sudden urge to once again put pen to paper – just simple, black designs. By the time I reached Gokarna a month or so later, I'd begun adding red, as that was the only colored ballpoint I could find.
My dear friend, Oliver – who I met up with in Gokarna – brought me a few brightly colored ballpoint pens (purple, pink and green) from the States. He, our friend Joni and I spent a month in that little beach town, passing most of our time creating art together and visiting the ocean each day.
Oliver watched as I sketched the beginnings of this one before quietly sliding a box of colored pencils towards me in a wordless suggestion. I added in a bit of subtle orange and yellow and was instantly in love.
And so it was that my mandalas evolved into the intricate, colorful patterns they are today.
Thank you, Oliver. ;)
Steepshot
Zippy, you are a creative powerhouse and your mandala - and the story of their evolution - is lovely <3
Oh @jaytaylor – of course, there you are again. I do believe you are my most supportive Steemian friend. THANK YOU. <3
this is just beautiful. I don't know how you can draw something like that and make it so delicate looking.
I always wished I could draw!
I bet you would draw beautiful mandalas! Ya know...I've taught a few impromptu classes. Perhaps I should adapt something for Steemit. Maybe? ;)
Yes please :D
Beautiful mandala, zipporah. Thanks to Oliver for passing you some colored pencils, though black & white mandalas are beautiful also.
I heard about your post on Steemit Ramble Discord :-)
Thank you! I'm forever grateful to Ollie, of course. This was only one of the many ways he's inspired me and quietly changed my life for the better. <3
It's wonderful to have people like that in your life. :-)
This is a delightful piece of art! I love the curving linework and the subtle blossom of color, here-and-there! The story behind the colored pencils is charming and sweet, and your posts are always so uplifting! 🤗
@thekittygirl – omnipresent in alll the places where one might possibly benefit from some sweet, purring love. <3
That is truly beautiful. My daughter is an aspiring artist, I will have to show her this, i think she will love it. Thanks for sharing.
Yes!! I'd love to see what she creates! Please share! <3
Seriously? And you can draw too? Will your talents never cease? (Coming from someone who screws up a stick figure!) XXXOOO T
Guilty, as charged. ;) I blame my mum...and her mum – and her mum too. Right @nasima? I come from a long line of artistic ladies. <3 I bet you draw a mean ass stick man. ;)
How beautiful!! I love to color, draw and paint! It is so therapeutic! I love to see other people use this type of medium to calm their minds as well!! This is very inspiring! Thank you for sharing!!
It really is so calming. It gives my cluttered head a way to untangle itself – even if only for a moment or two. ;)
Looks really great :)
I never really draw a mandala, just the color-it-book ones. But anyway it’s super calming drawing nature, trees or just patterns.
You should try it sometime! It does wonders for the wandering mind. ;)
But how to start? Draw some circles on a piece of paper? 🎯
Pretty much – yep! Just...draw something in the middle of a blank piece of paper. Don't worry about what it will become. Just...put something there. A circle – a dot – a triangle. Although, the more symmetrical the shape you choose, the better. And avoid things with only 4 sides. Mandalas really want to be at least 5 sides, if not more. ;)
To be continued in future lessons. <3
Thank you, I will give it a try
ps....if you look reaaly closely, you'll see that this mandala began as one, tiny circle.
Beautiful, I hope you post more! I love mandalas.
Sooo many more where this came from. Yep! I've just been too lazy to properly scan them all. Someday!
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