radial balance Archives - Art is Basic

Fun and Easy Mandalas with Metallic Gel Pens

By Marcia Beckett | December 14, 2017 - 8:56 pm |July 5, 2024 abstract, coloring, drawing, fourth grade, symmetry, third grade

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Fun and Easy Mandalas with Metallic Gel Pens

One day this summer, my daughter came home from camp with a circle design drawn using metallic gel pens. I thought it looked so cool, I wanted to try it with my students in 3rd/4th grade. I usually teach about mandalas and radial balance at this age level. Mandalas have religious and spiritual significance around the world. They have been used for meditation and relaxation. I showed the students mandalas including Tibetan and Navajo sand paintings, ancient Aztec and architecture. … Read more… →

How to Make a Watercolor Mandala

By Marcia Beckett | October 11, 2016 - 4:25 pm |July 5, 2024 all grades, painting, pattern, personal artwork, symmetry, watercolor

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A hand with painted nails coloring an intricate mandala design with a black pen, creating a beautiful blend of patterns and shapes.

Earlier this summer I wrote a blog post about how to make watercolor doodled flowers. These mandalas I created were made with a very similar technique. Both these mandalas and the flowers were made by starting with watercolor paints and then doodling on top with thin markers. Products I Use (Amazon Affiliate links are used) Prima Marketing Watercolor Confections: Tropicals Prima Marketing Watercolor Confections: The Classics Sakura Koi Brush Pen Set Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point Sakura Micron Ink Pen … Read more… →