and to support your creative journey.
After publishing the number 1 tip for dot mandala painters on my blog a few weeks ago (make sure to give it a read), I now pen down the list of my other 5 important tips for you.
Before I get to the tips I’d like you to know that almost none of them talk about technical issues or provide you with fast dotting solutions and tricks to use on your work. None of them will make you work faster or help you become a mass-producer of art pieces.
However, I frequently use these tips in my daily work and they have largely contributed in making them so successful. I am not exceptionally talented or gifted in any way. I am simply willing to explore, experiment and learn while painting. I take my time and dive into my art.
The greatest gift my mandala painting journey has gifted me
is the knowledge of these tips (and more). Following these tips benefited not only to my creativity and art but also to various aspects of my life- my family, my marriage, my financials, my self-esteem, and my happiness.
All these tips affect more horizons than it might seem in the beginning. Whenever I confront a new obstacle, a new challenge, they re-appear in a different subtle form and remind me that I can successfully deal with anything thrown at me.
This tip is the most important one and has its own extended post.
Click here to read it now!
1. Paint non-sketched mandalas.
If you aren’t doing this already, make it a point to paint non-sketched mandalas.
The non-sketched mandalas are the best kind of mandalas to practice and keep a high level of accuracy. It all depends on YOU to paint and maintain equal size and distance of the dots, so it grows out evenly from the centre.
This adds to your vision of symmetry, which you can later apply to sketched or partly sketched mandalas.
Here is a non-sketched mandala tutorial I created so you can follow and practice your vision of symmetry.
Count the dots: If you have accurately maintained the size and distance, the number of dots around the multiple centre dots should be the same (or with very small differences).
Counting the dots not only helps you to check and ensure your symmetry but also puts you in that meditative state we talked about in the slow down tip post.
2. Dedicate time to learn a new skill once in a while
Enhance your technical abilities and learn new ways to dot (tools, toothpicks, brushes, cones etc.)
Invest time and energy to hone your dotting skills and try to remain persistent. Having said that, take a break from time to time and do not try to finish as many pieces as you can in the shortest time. Such a balance will help you improve and become better.
You are not here to compete. You are here to learn and grow. Open up your mind. Practice new techniques.
The web is full of tutorials as well as free and paid courses. Look for the ones teaching something new about the techniques and not only different patterns to follow. Push your limits and step into uncharted territories. Not only would you be amazed at your progress but also won’t believe that you were afraid to try it.
You can check out my courses here:
- How To dot Your Mandala With a Brush
- or The Bundle to include Swirl & Swoosh It! course.
3. Be flexible while painting - “listen” to your art.
Paint is just paint, colour is the one that leaves an impact on you- listen to it.
Paint can be cleaned up or painted over. Don’t make a fuss if things don’t work out– this is a game of creativity which you’re supposed to be playing and enjoying. It is neither a punishment nor something to be suffering from. Sorry “the forever suffering artists” I don’t buy it, just like I don’t buy that love should be painful or distractive. I do, however, feel that through art and creation, we vibrate those emotions we consider undesirable. We dwell upon them to clear them up and just like a good cry, release them at the end of the process (but that is a whole book chapter to write one day).
Take breaks ranging from five minutes to whatever time you need, may it be hours, days, weeks, or months. Let the piece you work on, call you back (in the meantime you can paint other pieces).
Breaks give you time, time gives you perspective, and perspective opens and enriches you with new ideas.
Let the piece tell you what it needs next. Don’t be a know it all and as a result, block the creative flow of your creation. Give it time- TAKE BREAKS.
Change the colour
Let’s say you decided to paint in a particular scheme today and you keep having problems. Your dots don’t come out as you wish, the distances are unequal, you feel you are stuck and can’t seem to get it right.
Stop.
This might be happening because you are fixated on the wrong colour frequency.
Try this: Throw your stone in a bowl of water, let it soak, and then clean it. Breathe in, relax, and mix new paint. Start over with a different colour.
You might have consciously decided for pink today, but in reality it is your blue day or green day, or whatever other colour combination day. Don’t settle, let it flow and let yourself go with that flow.
A change in colour can help touch on all other parameters of your ability to paint.
4. Don’t compare your work to others
(I wrote about it in another post, but the message is quite significant therefore I am elaborating on the subject.)
We often look for inspiration on various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc., and while it is indeed the sweetest place to go for some inspiration, it could become a double edge sword.
Eventually, it all comes down to the state of mind we are at, when approaching the net for inspiration.
We feel the need for inspiration either because we are very excited about making new and different stuff or because our well of ideas and muse is dry.
In this case, looking at another creator’s work might cause the exact opposite effect of what we expected and wished for when we turned to search for it in the first place.
We suddenly see the capacity of another person, THEIR progress, where THEY are at, with their skills, prices, ideas, quantity, and abilities. This might cause us to close within ourselves even more, feel smaller and find ourselves in the worst trap for creators – the comparison trap.
“Oh why do I even bother…”
Be sure to always concentrate on YOUR PROGRESS. Compare YOUR past work to YOUR present work. Acknowledge YOUR growth and improvement.
Wondering how to do this? Here is an idea:
I keep a couple of stones in my drawer from the days when I first started dotting. Once in a while, I take them out and look at them closely.
Do this! You will start to notice the changes and be overwhelmed by your accomplishment. You’ll know precisely how you have improved and recognise how much you have evolved. It will all be very obvious to you.
This will put you right back on track. It will transfer your state of mind from a thirsty, empty, needy, and lost victim, to an excited, curios and a “what’s next” adventurous discoverer.
This is the starting point you want to be at when starting an inspirational search.
5. Declutter - let go of your finished mandalas.
Creativity is energy. I’m sure you are aware of it, but maybe you don’t understand how it works, or what you can do to help keep this energy flowing and give a boost to your art.
It is beautiful, simple and basic. It is a natural law. Not only in art but in all aspects of life:
- You need an empty container to be able to fill it.
- You need to be away from a dear one (take space) in order to miss them and be happy to see them again.
- You need to be hungry (have an empty stomach) in order to enjoy food again.
- You need to rest in order to be active again.
- You need to earn money in order to be able to spend it.
This constant filling and emptying of our container is the natural law and cycle. They cannot be classified as negative or positive. Both emptying and filling are neutral aspects of life.
Sometimes I like to imagine watching the world from above and seeing the multiple filling and emptying motions happening simultaneously everywhere and on all levels of life; it feels amazing! Anyway… coming to the point:
You need to create space in order for something new to arrive.
This space is the womb. It is the landing track on which the new particle can softly and safely land and start its life’s journey.
I am not telling you to get rid of all your creations:
You can definitely keep some, so that you can compare them later with the new ones you create and witness your progress, like in Tip #5.
You can sell some- exchange energies, so you can buy new materials and tools to improve the conditions of your creative space.
You can gift some as presents and influence other people’s energies as well.
No matter what you do, make that space! You cannot fill a cup that is already full. New creation can happen only when there is space.
Actively and consciously, say goodbye. Express your gratitude for being the tool through which this creation materialised and send it away, making space for new inspirations to shine on you.
Love, Liona
My concerts, as well as my vocal classes, workshops, painted pieces and painting courses are dedicated (as I believe all art teaching and manifesting should) to help people get inspired, and take steps towards growing their self-esteem, and becoming more open-hearted and loving.
Loved it Liona.
I’m glad to be practicing some of the points and working on others. Thanks again for sharing.
I know you are, dear, so am I!
Love
Liona
Thank you Liona – so much of this resonates with me- and I have read it over and over. I am saving this Blogona to remind me of your “tips” – in case I forget at times and my inspiration takes a rest. Thank you again dear Liona.
Liona you have helped me so much. I Can’t wait to implement these tips. I also can’t wait to swish and swirl. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and being a wonderful teacher.
Thank you so much Lisa,
Im so happy I could be of help.
Love
Liona
Thank you for the clarity of your words. This is a journey and you are a.compassionate and caring navigator to help us grow. If we listen. Bless you.
Thank you for your lovely words dear sandy,
So thrilled to be a part of your lives. its an honour.
Love,
Liona
So beautiful. I know I have the potential in me, as we all do. Some people will always be better than me, better than you. But I won’t compare myself to them, just to myself. Thank you, Liona!
Dear Chantell, I think it’s not about better, it about making our own unique voice heard, the technique is only a tool, after acquire it, it’s how you use it to express YOU.
Love,
Liona
The last point truly resonate with me Liona, emptying the vessel vefore filling it up, letting go when its time. Not only applies to art but also my daily life. Thank you for another lovely post.
with me too my dear, it was a struggle at first, till I realised how magically it works!
(I am decluttering my closet today for summer, so implementing it there too).
Love,
Liona
Love all the tips Liona, I definitely need to put some of them in practice.
Thank you ❤️
You are very welcome Hetal,
Let me know how it worked for you.
Love,
Liona
This blog is just wonderful. Something I really needed to hear. Thank you
Thank you dear Asma,
So happy you find it helpful.
Love,
Liona
I really needed to read this Liona! Thank you immensely for these tips! I have always thought myself to be well organized, but I now see, I need to do some of my own “decluttering”. I appreciate your knowledge and wisdom.
Dear Vicky, thank you. So happy it shines a light and cause introspection.
Love,
Liona
Thanks Liona ,
Very beautiful written. I can relate myself with all of them. I think every artist had gone through one or the other.
Being creative is very important to bring out your own art or techniques.
Thanks a lot for all your tips and ideas. Lots of love ♥️
So happy you could relate dear Sweety,
Love, Liona.
I have struggled with feeling inadequate and comparing my work with others in our class. That’s why I stopped posting my sheets. I was embarrassed but I see that I am slowly getting better. It helped me to hear to not compare my work to others and it helped me to hear my friend tell me that my practice sheets looked good. Thank you Liona for your teaching, tips and insight.
Hey dear,
Please remember that our group has students who are advanced in the course and already showing a more advanced lessons pictures. Your worksheets are awesome! You should be proud! I know I am! keep those tips in mind and keep growing for YOU!
Love,
Liona
Lovely post! In agreement with all statements!
Thank you dear,
Im glad you can relate.
Love
Liona
What a wonderful, heart centering post. Thank you! I’m fairly new to dot mandala painting and stumbled upon it during an emotional upheaval. I posted my first creation which was nat a mandala, but a tree I call Sanctification and the response was so overwhelming I decided it was something I wanted to continue doing. It started out as a healing exercise and has turned into so much more…others stand in front of some of my paintings and tears come to their eyes. I am completely shocked at the emotional response of others…this art form truly speaks to the heart and even though people don’t know what they’re responding to, it brings healing to them as well as me. Such a fulfilling hobby! Thank you for all these tips…it deepens my appreciation for this art form and the healing it lends.
Dear Terri,
This is wonderful is it not? The energy and spirit you put in to a piece is reflected of it and affect the ones beholding it?
Magic! keep spreading it!
As I have written I feel blessed when I found out yr art and what dotting is. I just want to thank you in public for all yr kind and wise advices since they are helping us to understand better and to focus in ourselves and art. Please do not stop to remind us how important is to slow down! Thank you
Thank you so much dear,
I am so thrilled you have found this course and this site useful and thank you for your lovely words.
Slowing down is the key!!
Liona
Hi there, just wanted to mention, I loved this post.
It was inspiring. Keep on posting!
Thank you! So happy you enjoyed it and that it is beneficial to you.
I really like reading through a post that
will make people think. Also, many thanks for enabling me to comment!
Also visit my blog post TaishaZPoxon
Happy you are enjoying my site!
Thank you.
Liona
Hiye,
Really appreciate the tips 🙂 they have come in very timely for me .
Thank you for sharing. Spot on !
You are so welcome dear,
Glad it resonates with you.
Great article.
My homepage :: bullet journal traveler’s notebook inserts
Thank you, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Liona, you are an inspiration and such a wonderful artist. So happy that I found you!
Thank you dear Peg, I am so joyed to know this is helpful.
Thank you for these reminders Liona. The art of painting and creating aligns with my yoga practice in so many ways. I appreciate that you remind us to slow down, be present… breathe and enjoy.
So happy this aligns with you and your work dear. big hug!
No matter how many times I read your tips, focus your coaching and guidance, beautiful voice and music, powerful suggestions, positive affirmations, you/it sets and keeps my on my creative path. Muchas gracias, thank you!
Thank you my dear, I am so happy this is useful!
This is SPOT on, Liona. Thank you for summing up so beautifully what I have learned, and I must say, embraced, since I started this art. I started numbering my pieces in the beginning-have no clue why, but now I look back at my pieces only 200 pieces ago, and I have monitored my own progress.
It helps me continue to stretch. This is a unique and satisfying artform. I wish I could share with the world. ❤
I am so happy this feels aligned with you dear Vicki, It is so important to acknowledge our own progress as part of this creative path we take in this world.
Thank you for your guidance. The process looks so satisfying I’ll definitely try it myself.
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