1. Mandalas and Radial Balance

2. Mandala
The Term mandala comes from the ancient Sanskrit language and loosely translates to mean “circle”.
Mandalas are used as a symbol in many religions and examples of mandalas
abound in nature.

3. Radial Symmetry
Radial balance is any type of balance based on a circle with its design extending from or focused upon its center.
Radial is the adverb form of the verb To Radiate..like you can have radial tires.

5. Balance
Radial is the 3rd type of balance. We’ve already discussed the other two kinds of balance…
Which are…?

6. Balance
Symmetrical Balance- meaning the artwork is roughly the same on both sides. (remember artistic symmetry can be approximate while mathematical symmetry must be exact
Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Cow Skull in Red White and Blue” is an example of Symmetrical Balance.

7. Balance
Asymmetrical Balance refers to an artwork where one side of the work does not reflect the other.
James McNeill Whistler’s painting of his mother, commonly referred to as “Whistler’s Mother” is asymmetrically balanced.

8. Mandalas
Mandala’s occur commonly in nature…

9. Mandalas in Nature

10. Mandalas in Nature

11. Mandalas in Nature
So many things in the natural world have a radial shape that many religions began to use the mandala as a symbol for the universe

12. Mandalas in Religion
Because the circle is also an unbroken and infinite shape it has taken on symbolism in many religions.

13. Buddhism
Buddhist monks make amazing and detailed sand mandalas as a form of meditation

14. Sand Mandalas

16. Other mandalas Can you think of any others I forgot?
zentangle mandala
music for meditation
Can you think of any others I forgot?
music for meditation

17. Kolam Rangoli
The kolam, or "rangoli" is a traditional mandala, a geometric pattern, that women design in front of their houses during festivities. In Tamil culture is a strong form of expression by the women, who express their feelings in this secret way.