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.balancecircledesign focused Radial is the adverb form of the verb To Radiate..like you can have radial tires.

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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Mandalas Mandala’s occur commonly in nature…

8. Mandalas in Nature

10. 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

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

12. Circles in Christianity The circle is seen repeatedly throughout Christianity in the halo, the crown of thorns, and rosary beads.

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

14. Sand Mandalas

15. Other mandalas Can you think of any others I forgot?