My mandala ended up being fairly simple. I have loved looking through everyone else’s final products, and many of them have made me want to experiment with making a more intricate mandala. The more detailed mandalas have so many easter eggs, and those tiny elements make the experience of looking at the mandala a sort of treasure hunt. I set out to make a clean and organic design, and I like the way it turned out. However, I think that I will definitely explore making some more complicated mandalas in the future.
Being able to devote a couple of hours twice a week to simply drawing in class was a very peaceful and meditative experience. Working with the mandala templates was so different from anything I’d done before. I loved the way each brushstroke transformed into something entirely different and surprising as it repeated itself. Some of my favorite parts of my mandala were created by mistake. I would marvel at the way a simple twirl of my pen could morph into something resembling a tulip or a tree or a leaf. A quick brush on the tablet could change a flower into a snowflake. Each detail had profound impacts on the final product. Seeing the completed mandala and being able to exhale and say, “Yes, that looks like me,” was a lovely feeling.
While I was working on my mandala, I listened to a bunch of Disney soundtracks, and I have found it funny and entertaining to notice the influence that the soundtracks had on my final products. My original black and white mandala ended up taking on a snowflake-like quality, a visual echo of the tunes from Frozen. When I set out to adapt the mandala into a more dynamic, colored version, I decided to embrace the elements of my mandala which reminded me of Tangled: the petals opening in the center, the streaks of sunlight stretching outward, the circular lanterns of light. My final color scheme enhances these elements. The opening song from the Tangled soundtrack has become a sort of anthem for me this fall: When Will My Life Begin? I am so grateful for the time I have been able to devote to honing my interests, developing my skills, and learning as much as I can. Just like Rapunzel, we have all spent an incredible amount of time trapped inside during the last year and a half. And just like Rapunzel, I feel ready to get out into the world and put my skills and knowledge to good use.
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