At my Mandala workshops I’ll briefly talk about the history of mandala art.

Mandalas can be spotted in many cultures throughout time. Ancient Celts used mandala as a way to focus the mind and communicate.

Circles, often representing cycles, (life, death, sun, moon) can be seen in surviving art as far back as 20’000 BC.

Celtic artisans and craftsmen (and maybe craftswomen, who knows?) developed a language of symbols that went beyond aesthetics to tell stories or symbolise things and moods.

Some examples include:

Knotwork: Elaborate knot patterns were drawn/ carved representing infinity and continuity of spirit from this world to the next

Spirals: Represent growth.. with the spiral direction symbolising positive (clockwise) or negative (anti-clockwise)

Key patterns: Represent protection

Along with symbolisation colours represent different things too. For example:

Blue: represents thinking/thought-fullness

Yellow and gold: sun and illumination

Red: blood and emotion

Green: Fertility, nature and growth

My Mandala, below, here was inspired by the traditions but does not come near to the level of detail that can be found in ancient designs nor does it represent anything other than me having fun.

Let me know if you enjoyed this blog and would like to hear more about art history in the comments

#karincolors #karincolorscontest #karinmarkers #mindfulcreativity #creatful #mandalaart #mandala #celticart #historygeek #arthistory

*Mandala: Any art with a circle form.