Personal Mandala

For this assignment, we were asked to learn what we could on our own about Mandalas and to create our own personal Mandala using symbols or drawings that represent us.

Since this was supposed to represent me, I drew pictures in each of the sections that represent things that are unique to me, things I like to do, or places I love to visit.  I chose colored pencils to add color to this project because I could color detailed areas easily.    I colored lightly in most places because I don't like the look of dark coloring with colored pencils, but I think that in some ways the lighter look makes it look too hurried. 

I think this assignment could be used as a great way for teachers to get to know their students through their art!  It was, however, for beginning artists at least, not something that can be done in this amount of detail in a short amount of time.  Since many elementary schools only get about 30 minutes of art instruction per week, I would recommend maybe doing the line drawing part of this one day and working on the coloring in free time throughout the week.

This was really fun to do!  Looking back I wish I had added more of the small detail that is in the center throughout the sections in between the drawings of snorkeling, snowboarding, uni-cycling, and Japan.  I think that might make this piece "flow" better or feel more unified.