It’s no secret that I suffer from anxiety. When it comes to panic attacks, I’m a total professional. The good news is that I’ve come to discover numerous coping mechanisms, one of which is drawing mandalas. Don’t get me wrong, meditation, exercise, and healthy habits are key in reducing my anxiety. But finding my happy place sometimes just requires a pen and a sketchbook.
Before I go any further, I should mention that there have been actual medical studies done on the process of drawing mandalas. The process is shown to relieve stress, reduce pain, improve depression, give the immune system a boost, lower blood pressure, and promote better sleep. Not bad for a fun little drawing project.
I’m officially inviting you to try your hand at mandalas. Yes I’m an artist and I make mine super intricate and crazy, but anyone can learn to draw beautiful mandalas. Besides, it’s the process we’re after, not the resulting drawing (that’s a bonus). This is my favorite online tutorial for drawing mandalas. It’s quick and easy to follow. I promise.
When the drawing is done, there’s a whole other super fun thing to do… coloring! As I’ve shared before, I’m obsessed with bright colors, and mandalas are no exception. Breaking out my ginormous collection of pens and markers makes my heart happy.
Since I learned the art of mandala, these magical kaleidoscopes have been sneaking their way into my paintings. This is a 24″ x 24″ acrylic painting I did after drawing a large mandala on canvas. Fun fact: I had to purchase the world’s largest compass to pull this off.
I’m also working on a 36″ x 36″ mixed media painting that’s based on one of my mandala drawings. The mandala is pieced together with chipboard shapes covered in fabric and paint.
So I think it’s safe to say I’m totally hooked on mandala. I hope I’ve inspired you to find your zen in an amazing little drawing. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go find mine.
