Monochromatic and Complementary Mandalas
Mandala is the Sanskrit word for circle. In religious art, the mandala is used to symbolize the universe. However, the pattern of a mandala -- a circle with a center- is found many places. For example, the iris of our eye, a snow crystal, a bird's nest --even a bicycle wheel.
Monochromatic color
• Mono= one• Chroma= color• Monochromatic= one color• Monochromatic artworks use tints and shades
of one color. A tint is a color mixed with white, and a shade is a color mixed with black.
Examples of monochromatic paintings
Complementary colors
• Complementary colors are always in a pair. They are 2 colors directly across from each other on the color wheel.
• Yellow/ Violet• Blue/Orange• Red/GreenThey can also be made with tertiary colors, for example yellow-green/red-violet
• When next to each other, complementary colors appear brighter. This is used often in optical illusion art.
• When they are mixed together, they become duller versions. To get this yellow ochre color, you don’t add black to yellow, you add violet.
Your task
• Create a mandala design first. I’ll show you how to get started.
• Carefully paint it in using complementary colors and tints and shades of them.
How to do it:
• Start with one slice of the circle. There are 8 total. Draw many shapes on it. More complicated is better than less.
• Trace your slice around the circle. A patter begins to form.
Grading
• Grading: • Complexity of design: 10 points• Craftsmanship: 10 points• Using 7 different tints and shades: 5 points• Total: 25 points
