Inked Mandala (Part 1)

"Each day I move toward that which I do not understand.
The result is a continuous accidental learning which constantly shapes my life."
~ Yo-Yo Ma

Art Every Day Month begins with a brush in a glass bottles of J. Herbin fountain pen ink. Above, 8x8" watercolor paper, mandala in black PITT pen (XS) and purple Sakura micron (005), inked.

A bunch of experiments: 1) paint with fountain pen ink, 2) use a new #4 flat white sable brush, 3) paint a mandala drawn in PITT pen 4) test Clairefontaine cold press watercolor paper. I'd drawn this mandala as part of the square (paper) mandala series (8x8" journal), and really didn't love it but thought a colorized version would be cool. So I painted first with J. Herbin (click to see all the ink colors) Bleu Pervenche, diluting the ink to get lighter shades. Next, the swirls with Lie de The and the corners of the page toward the mandala with a larger brush. For the teeny tiny circles I used Rose Cyclamen ink in the Rapidograph technical pen with a .35mm nib. Check out Rapidograph Ink Experiments using this gorgeous ink!

2 CHALLENGES. 30 DAYS. 60 CREATIONS. GO.

Comments

[Sam]

Lovely :-) I love the way the shaded ink in the corners makes it look like it's floating.

[Eden]

This is OUTSTANDING! I agree, it looks like the ribbons are floating out from the middle. Beautiful piece :D

[Rebecca]

I also love how you photographed the drawings!