How did I get started making mandalas?

The story of how I got started making mandalas is still a delight to me. Back in 1993 I believe it was, my mother, who claims not to be an artist, had taken a workshop in expressing feelings or some similar thing. In that workshop, they got out paper and markers and had to draw an expression of something. She chose to draw a picture of the happiness she wished for me. After the workshop, she presented me with the picture, saying she didn't think a lot of it artistically, but it tried to show that she hoped I would be happy and peaceful. It's a beautiful piece in a circular format with rainbows and sunshine in it. I saved it carefully, with no thought in mind that it would change my life.

In late 1994 I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do when I grow up. I was sick of the 9 to 5 world, and longing to do something creative with my life again. Around that time, I found the picture my mother had drawn for me. It really struck me. I remembered suddenly that I am an artist, and there was no reason I couldn't make that my life and livelihood. I was so thrilled at the idea, that I sat down to make a "thank you" picture for my mother. Markers and bristol board in hand, I did my first mandala totally freehand, which has made it a little lopsided, but the heart of the drawing is there. I gave that first mandala to my mother, who still displays it on the wall today. I was fascinated with the idea of the mandala and started reading up on them and working on them constantly. For several months I spent no less than 4 hours a day, 7 days a week, working on mandalas. While I've also done other things since then, I've continued making mandalas out of most anything that strikes my fancy, whether it be pens, markers, paint or pixels.

7/6/01 - I realized somewhat belatedly that I've been making mandalas for longer than this. Even before 1994, I've made drawings and paintings that I called "chanting paintings."

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