Some of my last designs are mandalas. I really like those type of patterns. Even if they are simple and repetitive, they are totally mesmerizing. Can’t you just look at them forever?
When people used to draw these shapes by hand, they really had to think about the shape and how to draw it to be a true pattern. Now days it is much easier with software and applications that do most of the work for you. I have seen some people uploading mandala patterns made from photos, and I guess that it is done by using an app.
Some may call this cheating, but I would say it is still just a tool. You still need to do the input, and depending on the quality and the mind behind it, the end result will vary. Now the designers get to think more about the meaning behind the shape and colors instead of keeping the lines the same.
Personally I use Affinity Design to create my designs. I like using Procreate as well, but raster graphics doesn’t go well with t-shirt printing as good as vector graphics. Especially when it is printed with a white background and not using a blending mode. If there are any transparency, it wont look very good. Anyway, Affinity Designer allows you to create symbols that you can place out as many times you like. If you place them well they will produce a mandala as you draw inside of one of them.
Each node of the mandala is created by placing two symbols whereas one of them is reversed. This creates symmetric shapes where you only draws one side. The grouped symbols are copied and rotated around the same center point until the circle is completed. Then you can start to draw for real with instant feedback of the end result.
My latest mandala designs represent ice and fire, two elements that I love. Ice landscapes can be absolutely breathtaking by its different shapes and constantly shifting colors, same as the flares of a fire in constant motion flying into the sky. I can’t wait to design more in a similar fashion. I am thinking of doing one inspired by the forest but I am always up for suggestions with thoughts about what inspires you.
LDe 