Mandala Rocks

CREATING DOT PAINTINGS IS A GREAT ACTIVITY FOR ALL. NEEDING JUST A FEW MATERIALS, YOU CAN MAKE BEAUTIFUL ITEMS TO GIVE AS GIFTS OR TO DECORATE YOUR HOME

Materials:

Choose your rocks. You want smooth, even ones (no holes). If you’re using a canvas instead, prep it with a layer gesso, or paint a background colour.

Acrylic paints in various colours

Dotting tools of different sizes. You can buy dotting tools, but you’ll find plenty of items around your home that you can use (e.g. toothpick, a head of a pin for small dots, cotton buds or pencil eraser for medium).

Palette or plate for mixing colours

Pencil (optional, to sketch the design)

TOP TIPS!

▪ Clean old paint from the tool immediately so it doesn’t change the circular shape

▪ Only dip the tip of the tool into the paint, you need minimal amount

▪ Hold the dotting tool close to the end (as you would a pen) to increase precision and dot so it is perpendicular to the surface. No need to hold the dotting tool on the surface, just a ‘dot’.

▪ If you’re adding another dot on top of the first layer, ensure the paint is completely before applying a top layer.

Steps:

By Gayle Feasey

1. Prepare: Make sure the rock (or whatever you are painting onto) is clean and dry.

2. Choose your design: Decide on the pattern or design you want to create with dots. You can start with simple shapes like flowers, mandalas, or abstract patterns.

3. Select your colours: Pick a colour scheme that you'd like to use for your dot painting. The beauty of dot painting lies in the harmonious blend of colours. You’ll find plenty of colour schemes online to guide you.

4. Start with the background: If you want a coloured background, paint the canvas with your chosen colour and let it dry completely.

5. Dip the dotting tools: Take your dotting tools and dip them into the acrylic paint of your desired colour.

6. Create the dots: Place the dotting tool on the rock and gently press to create a dot. You can vary the pressure to change the dot's size. Continue making dots to form your chosen design.

7. Space the dots: Be mindful of the spacing between the dots to maintain a uniform pattern. You can also overlap dots or leave spaces for different effects.

8. Layer the colours: As your design progresses, you can add layers of dots with different colours to enhance the visual appeal.

9. Take breaks if needed: Dot painting can be time-consuming, so take breaks to rest your hand and maintain precision.

10. Let it dry: Once you've completed your dot painting, allow it to dry completely before displaying or handling it.

11. Recommended: If you want to protect your dot painting, you can apply a clear varnish or sealant over the dried artwork.

Remember, dot painting is all about creativity and personal expression, so don't be afraid to experiment and have fun with it!

If you go wrong (you will!) then embrace the mistake. The best creations can be made when you go off-piste! Or if it’s a total disaster and you’re really not happy with it, simply paint a new background colour, let it dry and start again!

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