I’ve not properly painted for ages. Although I’ve been creating daily mandalas for #Maydala, I’ve had to fit round wfh, so I’ve just been using watercolour pencils for speed.

Yesterday I painted for 9 hours. I think it’s the best painting I’ve done.

Process thread

I knew I wanted to construct the almond-shaped version of the diminishing squares mandala that I’ve painted before (below).

The almond-shaped version is essentially a highly simplified construction of the Lotfollah Mosque dome pattern. I used @joumajnouna’s instructions:

https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/geometric-design-the-lotfallah-mosque-dome--cms-24859?_ga=2.20098488.1445781416.1590484964-1674535872.1590484964I

I find these instructions to be the most elegant for this pattern, as they are entirely based on circles.

Underlying grid done. At this stage I had no idea what I wanted to do with the design, or what the finished painting would look like.

I wanted to try out my new Finetec Coliro PearlColours, so I had a quick play on a spare bit of watercolour paper. I ended up chosing a green, blue and copper combination.

I first outlined in a copper marker. It felt a bit empty in the middle, so I decided to pick out a flower shape from the underlying circular grid. Still unsure about this decision! At this stage I thought I’d ruined it, but it has grown on me.

Then I dove in. No idea what to do with that central flower, which I hated at this stage, so I just coloured it all in with copper Finetec paint - job done! Then I started to play with the ‘petals’.

I often use a gradient technique - it gives a nice 3D effect. But I usually use the darker colour on the inner part. I’d seen a painting on Instagram where the artist had done it the other way round, lightest on the inside, and it seemed to create an inner ‘glow’. So I tried it.

When I’d painted all the petals, the painting still felt unfinished. I photographed it to get some perspective, and perhaps a better sense of what was wrong.

Then I had a flash of inspiration & ‘saw’ the final outcome in my mind’s eye. I told mum who advised me not to risk it. Sorry mum!

I tackled it in 2 stages, photographing it after the 1st stage in case it did all go horribly wrong! I first outlined the frame of circular arcs...

And then I painted it black!

Aargh, was it all a terrible mistake?

No! I love it! My favourite painting yet

Still needs a few touch ups with the marker pen, and I’m deliberating whether it needs a thin, copper, outer frame, but I’m all painted out for a bit. That can wait.

One happy painter for now

If you’re a fan of geometric art and like what I do, you might want to follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarissagrandi.art/