We completed a Mandala project in Digital Media using Adobe Illustrator. First, we learned how to make templates with sections of various sizes so that we could create infinite mandalas in the future. Within each mandala was one section for us to draw in. Each stroke that we drew in that section would repeat all throughout the mandala. My favorite aspect about this concept was that regardless of what you drew, it would look fascinating.

Artist Statement

I valued learning about a part of a different culture through this project. I was also able to learn more about Adobe Illustrator and I found myself becoming more familiar with it. Creating the templates and using clipping masks was definitely new and interesting to me. I thought it was satisfying to see the pattern I drew repeat all throughout the mandala. I have always found koi fish to be beautiful, so I’m glad I was able to incorporate them into my mandala. 

If I were to do this project again, I would make the black and white version of the mandala more complex by adding more details. I would also shade in the blue “water” background of the colored mandala so it would look less flat and show the ripples in the water. As for the video, I would maybe opt for different background music to suit the theme better.

By creating this mandala, I felt like I was able to understand myself better and the different sides to me. Through the koi fish I drew, I thought back to all my experiences with them; feeding my family friend’s koi fish when I was younger, visiting a koi pond in Maui, etc. I also decided to create a yin yang effect, hence the deeper understanding of my various sides.