Research
My most recent project was a pattern-based project centered round mandalas. This project is designed to have someone explore the development of dynamic patterns through analysis of natural and human-made forms. I will develop abstract patterns that relate to both nature and synthetic shapes or structures (without being a direct representation) through the use of design elements and principles primarily focusing on line, shape, texture, rhythm/repetition, movement, symmetry and asymmetry, and scale. These pattern studies will be organized in mandala form. Along the way, the goals for me were to identify and apply a range of elements and principles that play a role in pattern development. Illustrate pattern evolution and development inspired through observation, evaluation, and testing relationships of natural and mechanical forms. Plan composition organization through strategies related to essential underlying grid structures. Develop and describe ideas through iteration. Demonstrate intentional crafting techniques in both analog and digital applications and tools.
First, I did some research on Mandalas to learn a little bit more about them because that was what the project is centered upon. I learned that a radial degree of 45 is what they considered perfect as well as a mandala is generally a representation of the circle of life and being complete. Before I could start creating grids for my mandala, I started by finding 10 natural objects and 10 synthetic objects and throwing them into a chart to create abstractions. I played around with symmetric/asymmetric, dynamic/static, curves/straight, repetition/rhythm, positive/negative, and macro/micro principles. After experimenting with breaking down each object into my own abstraction. I used the results from these iterations and newfound knowledge to begin drafting grids. I made grids that were symmetrical, asymmetrical, and some that played with positive and negative space, and even some that were just for fun to get the ball rolling and try and get the creative juices flowing. After creating the grids, it was time to test the abstractions I created within these grid spaces to get a feel for what I did and didn’t like. These experiments can be seen below. I hadn’t settled on one grid yet, so I tested multiple abstractions within multiple grids.
Iterations
A lot of what was talked about in the research sections can be found in the iterations portion of the process post. First came the image gathering and the iterations of all 20 of the images gathered. I decided to create a chart and create iterations involving a bunch of design principles to see which ones would inspire me or turn out very confident.
After my sketch iterations, it was time to focus on the grids. There were so many different directions to go with this. What radial degree, symmetrical or asymmetrical, how would pattern affect the radial differences, a lot went into the grid creation. So, I just made a few of each to see what stood out or which grids stood out more than others as being confident. Some grids were made only with lines others were made with images or shapes.
Concept Statement
For my digital mandala, I took inspiration from the four elements, Earth, wind, water, and fire. I thought this idea was a really abstract concept in the sense that someone could take it in many directions, and I wanted to give my interpretation of it. I decided to abstract all four elements while they were moving. A landslide, wind flowing in a certain area, water rushing down a creek, and fire rising. Some of these are hard to abstract because you cannot see wind, but we see the Earth everywhere we look. Overall, the result was to give off a harmonious effect because I feel that is what the embodiment of a mandala stands for. So, I used symmetry, positive/negative space, grayscale, line width, movement, and texture to help communicate these abstractions I’ve created. So, next is my analog composition which was inspired by a pair of shoes. The mandala is a breakdown of a pair of shoes from the laces down to the form of it. I wanted to keep the design simple, as shoes are a simple object. However, I pulled things apart and left gaps between objects to give a sense of complexity because the shoe itself isn’t complex, but the process of creating it is complex. This is the effect I was hoping to give off, complexity. Even the simplest of objects can be complex if you break them apart. I also took into account symmetry, line width, positive/negative space, scale, and deformation to help give off this intended effect.
Production
Now I had come up with the idea to do an Earth, wind, water, and fire iteration for my analog composition. However, after talking to my professor we decided I wasn’t truly using my own abstractions so I decided to start over on the natural iterations for each element and the transition can be seen between my first draft analog mandala and my later digital iterations. After seeing how much detail was put into my abstractions, I decided it would be best to do my natural mandala digitally with the same grid. I wanted to make sure the details were consistently carried over so I changed my mind so that my digital composition would be of my natural objects and my analog composition would be of the synthetic objects. I continued to create multiple compositions for my natural mandala until I found one, I felt truly confident in.
I now could shift my focus more towards my synthetic objects because I was still unsure what I wanted to do for that mandala. I just didn’t like any of the first objects I chose or the abstractions for them either. I decided to shift my mind towards something I’m passionate about. I started thinking and realized I love shoes, why can’t I just do that. So, I did, I started researching pictures of shoes to give me inspiration and when I began creating rough drafts for my shoe-based mandala, I already felt more confident in it. This had to be done by hand though, so I thought about how I could get my ideas across while keeping it simplistic to help keep the symmetry and detail. With this shift in mindsets, I also felt I had to change my grid. I changed the grid to something more simplistic that I felt fit the mandala better. I then came up with the idea that you can see below, and it was inspired by the pictures I found that is also pictured. I played around with the ideas and iterations digitally and then when I came up with a final idea, I took it to Bristol and began working by hand.
I now had done multiple objects and grid iterations to the point where I had focused on two different ideas, one for each mandala. The production for my digital mandala was all done on Sketchbook using the radial tool. It took many attempts of trial and error until I eventually came up with my final composition for my digital mandala. My analog mandala was much harder simply because it was done by hand. I had to figure out how I was going to take a 12×12″ canvas and create a symmetrical composition on it. I ended up doing multiple trials digitally of what I wanted my mandala to look like so when I go to do it by hand, I have an idea of how I’m going to do it. With all that practice, and the addition of a guide/stencil I made I was able to pretty accurately create a symmetrical hand-drawn mandala that I was happy with at the end of the production.
Portfolio Project
View final project at Mandala Pattern Project