Lorraine Anderson

My passion is for the art of geometry, sketching and journal art painting in mixed media. My educational career history is in the humanities and arts. I am a former art student, and sign writer (old school!) muralist, stenciller and technical drawing board artist (still old school!). I started teaching ad-hoc in the adult learning sector in 2010 and I work as a Mindfulness, Buddhist-informed Psychotherapist and Creative Counsellor. That said, I only began drawing mandalas for the first time about two years ago and my slightly ADHD brain was very engaged from the outset! I highly recommend this drawing practice for those who experience anxiety or suffer from low moods, but need and like structure built into their creativity especially if you feel you cannot draw. You do not need any special training or art skills to draw mandalas, but I assure you, your hidden creativity will show up anyway!

Those early mandalas in the Mehindi style were fun and pretty to decorate. However, I also wanted to integrate my technical drawing art skills to incorporate the traditional skills found in producing the more complex challenges found in Sacred Geometry and Faith inspired decorations and with this the idea that spirituality through building up cultural knowledge of this art form is good for the eyes, mind, heart and soul. This is an experiential journey, so each person will have their own expression of it. This type of drawing supports both hemispheres of the brain, it offers visual structure, order, skill and beauty which calms the overactive mind and brings a feeling of inner stability and groundedness. As you draw, the mind becomes focused and quiet, which then opens the creative half of the mind ready for renewed creativity, an intuitive and natural artistic flow. You become the symmetry and harmony of your practice and of your life.