Objectives
To
gain experience with a symbolic color scheme.
To
understand the historical and cross-cultural significance of symbols
and mandala designs.
Project
Overview
Your
challenge is to plan and execute a mandala, utilizing a symbolic
color scheme. It should employ a radial or four-way
symmetrical design and be derived from your own vocabulary of
symbols.
References
Reading:
Chapter 11 in Becky Koenig’s Color Workbook. Pages 192-210
Personal
research in books and on the internet
Natural
mandala designs (iris of the eye, sea urchin, snowflake,
cross-section of a twig…)
See
also:
Hindu Sri Yantra
Chinese TLV Mirror
Celtic Knots
Cathedral Rose Windows
Navajo
Sand paintings
English
Knot Garden Designs
Tibetan
Sand Mandalas
Vocabulary
color
symbols, color harmonies, color discord, color expression.
Materials
8
½ x 11” piece of Bristol vellum or illustration board, acrylic
paints or other media, drawing materials, brushes, mixing
tray, utility knife, straight edge, masking tape.
Process
Preliminary:
1. Before starting the project, read chapter 11 in Becky Koenig’s Color Workbook, review the thematic concept of Spirit Worlds and the discussion page on Emotional & Symbolic Color.
1. Before starting the project, read chapter 11 in Becky Koenig’s Color Workbook, review the thematic concept of Spirit Worlds and the discussion page on Emotional & Symbolic Color.
2.
Research mandalas in the library and/or on the Internet. Keep in mind
that mandala designs are a cross-cultural phenomenon. The
following website is a good place to start because it has links going
in many directions:
http://www.abgoodwin.com/mandala/index.shtml
(Center of the Circle)
Exercise:
1. Make five sketches of your own mandala designs. Include contrast of organic and geometric shapes. The outside shape of your piece can be a circle, a square or a rectangle.
1. Make five sketches of your own mandala designs. Include contrast of organic and geometric shapes. The outside shape of your piece can be a circle, a square or a rectangle.
OPTIONAL: Try translating some of your ideas using
the computer and Photoshop.
2. Create a mandala design that serves as a diagram for your inner universe, your spirit world. The visual content of the piece can be literal or symbolic, realistic or abstract. Consider carefully the implications of your work and be prepared to take responsibility for what you present.
2. Create a mandala design that serves as a diagram for your inner universe, your spirit world. The visual content of the piece can be literal or symbolic, realistic or abstract. Consider carefully the implications of your work and be prepared to take responsibility for what you present.
Discussion
and Critique Ideas
Consider the following:
Consider the following:
1.
Describe the techniques for creating radial designs your fellow
artists used and explain how various effects were achieved.
2.
Point out any personal symbols the artist used to indicate a
particular meaning.
3.
Discuss ideas the artwork seems to communicate. After some sharing of
interpretations, attempt to state the message of the
composition in one sentence. (This artwork is about. . .)
4.
Explain how the use of color, shapes, symbols, or other elements of
the composition support its message.
Notebook
Checklist
□ Clean and Organized
□ Clean and Organized
□ Turned
in on Time
□ Project
Objectives Page
□ Discussion
Page on Emotional & Symbolic Color
□ Concept
Page on Spirit Worlds
□ Vocabulary
□ Research
□ Five
Thumbnails Sketches
□ Mandala
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