The Kid's Mandala Challenge
Wed, September 1, 2010 at 05:06PM "That is the principal thing -
not to remain with the dream,
with the intention,
with the being in the mood,
but always forcibly to convert
it all into things."
— Rainer Maria Rilke
Here's a little drawing game my daughter (10) and I came up with the other night while the kids were expertly avoiding bed-time.
First, I manned the pitt pen and my daughter told me what to draw. It started with "draw a medium circle" and "draw round petals, not too big, around the circle" and "draw little bubbles in the petals." I could ask questions to clarify what to draw, like, "where should this petal go out to?" and "should the bubbles be different sizes?" After lots of gardening and drawing this week, my hand gave out after the parallel lines in the petals. Switch!
Here's my daughter's mandala drawn using my instructions. It started with, "draw with a small circle with a black circle inside" and "draw squares around the circle" and "draw pointy petals coming out from the boxes." My daughter's ribbons are gorgeous... she thinks so many steps ahead while she draws.
This was super fun! What we didn't expect was the difference in our drawing styles! Mine are so ridiculously tight and composed, and hers are dreamy, loose and flowy. This prompts me to try to loosen up a bit, and see what happens!
More Kid-Drawn Mandalas at Mandalas for Kids + more Mandalas for Kids + Impromptu Mandala Class.
Reader Comments (5)
I love this! what a great way to create a mandala together? and wouldn't it be cool and fun to come up with a "random mandala element" generator?
Your daughter's mandala is gorgeous! WOW!
These are awesome! What a fun activity. Your daughter's mandala is really amazing!
Your right, her ribbons are GORGEOUS!! What a fun game, I think it's cool that her style is so different from yours....you guys compliment one another! Will she get to color this in?
Sophie, We had so much fun with this idea that we started creating two more the next night!
Rebecca and Michelle, Thank you for your kind words, my daughter will be thrilled when I show her your comments.
Eden, We get ideas and learn from watching each other draw. How interesting to learn from your kids! You wouldn't believe how fast she draws the flowing ribbons. She has been really into drawing her own mandalas lately, so I don't expect this to be colored in.
Thanks all!
Tammy