To draw a mandala, start from a center point, draw guide circles and lines around it, and then fill each ring with a repeating pattern. Because you repeat the same shape evenly around the circle, the result looks balanced and detailed even if each piece is simple. You can finish a first one in about 30 minutes.
This guide gives you a clear set of steps, a list of what you need and a few ways to keep your design symmetrical. If you want to know where mandalas come from and what they are said to mean, read our post on mandala meaning first.
- Paper. Plain white paper or a sketchbook. Square or round paper makes it easier to center the design.
- A pencil and eraser. You'll draw guide lines you can erase later.
- A ruler. For straight guide lines.
- A compass (optional but helpful). For drawing neat circles. If you don't have one, trace around a bottle cap, a cup, a bowl or a roll of tape in different sizes.
- A fine black pen. To go over your final lines.
- Colored pencils, markers or gel pens (optional). For adding color at the end.
Fold your paper in half both ways, or lightly draw two lines that cross in the middle of the page. The point where they cross is the center. Mark it with a small dot. Everything grows from here.
Draw a series of circles around the center point, each one bigger than the last. A good beginner setup is four to six circles, spaced about 1 inch apart. These make rings. Each ring will get its own pattern.
With a compass, put the point on the center dot and change the opening for each circle. Without a compass, trace round objects. Line up the center of each one over your dot.
Rings are circles, but you also want to divide them into equal slices, like a pizza. These lines tell you where to repeat your pattern.
- Four slices. Use the lines you drew in step 1: one straight up and down, one side to side.
- Eight slices. Add two diagonal lines that cross through the center.
- Twelve or sixteen slices. Use a protractor to mark equal angles, or keep halving your slices by eye.
For your first mandala, eight slices is a good balance. It's detailed enough to look impressive and still easy to manage.
Draw something simple at the center, such as a small circle, a flower with eight petals or a star. Make the shape touch each guide line evenly.
A simple flower: draw eight petals, one centered on each guide line, with a small circle in the middle.
In the ring right outside the center, repeat one shape in each slice. Good choices:
- A petal or leaf shape in each slice.
- A teardrop with a dot beside it.
- A half circle (a scallop) along the ring's outer edge.
- A small triangle pointing outward.
Draw the same shape in every slice, one at a time, going around the circle. This is the heart of the method. Repetition is what makes the design look balanced.
Move outward, one ring at a time. Change the shape in each ring so the design has variety. A pattern that works well is to alternate:
- A ring of pointed shapes, such as petals or triangles
- A ring of round shapes, such as dots, circles or scallops
- A ring of lines, such as spokes or short dashes
- A ring of chain-like shapes, such as a row of little loops
Our list of 14 easy tangle patterns has step by step ideas that you can bend to fit a ring. The doodle ideas post also lists pattern shapes you can use.
On the outermost ring, draw something that closes the design: a row of scallops, a ring of dots, a zigzag or tiny triangles. A strong outer edge makes the whole mandala look finished.
When you're happy with the design, trace over the pencil lines with your fine black pen. Let the ink dry for a minute, then erase the guide lines and any stray marks.
You can leave your mandala black and white or color it. For tips, see the next section.
Symmetry is what makes a mandala feel calm. A few habits help.
- Draw the same part in each slice before moving on. If you add petals, draw all eight petals, then move on. This helps the shapes grow evenly.
- Use the guide lines. Center each shape on a line, or place each between two lines. Pick one and stay with it for the ring.
- Turn the paper. Instead of moving your hand around the circle, rotate the page. It keeps your hand in a comfortable angle, and your shapes tend to come out more alike.
- Start from the center and work out. Mistakes in the center spread outward. Mistakes in the outer rings are easier to hide.
- Don't aim for perfect. Slight differences give the mandala a hand drawn charm. Nobody is checking with a ruler.
- Count. Count the petals, dots and lines in each slice. If one slice has five dots, they all should.
| Ring | Shape | How to draw it |
|---|
| Center | Eight petal flower | One teardrop per guide line, small circle in the middle |
| Ring 1 | Petals | A pointed oval in each slice, with a line down the middle |
| Ring 2 | Dots | Three dots in each slice, one big and two small |
| Ring 3 | Scallops | A row of half circles along the ring edge |
| Ring 4 | Leaves | Tilted leaf shapes in pairs, like a branch |
| Border | Triangles | Small pointed triangles around the outside |
Mix and match until you like the look.
Coloring makes a mandala come alive. Here are a few easy approaches.
- Pick a palette. Two or three main colors, plus a neutral, looks neat. Warm colors like red, orange and yellow feel energetic. Cool colors like blue, green and purple feel calm. See our post on warm and cool colors.
- Color by ring. Choose a color for each ring and repeat it around the circle.
- Color by slice. Alternate two colors from slice to slice for a bold, starburst look.
- Go from light to dark. Fade from a light color in the center to a dark color on the outside, or the other way around.
- Add shading. A touch of darker pencil along one side of each petal adds depth. Our guide to blending colored pencils shows how.
- Use gel pens for sparkle. White and metallic gel pen dots look good on top of color. See gel pens.
My circles are lopsided. Use a compass or trace round objects. You can also draw the circle lightly, then go over it again.
My rings feel crowded. Space your circles farther apart, or use fewer rings. A simple mandala with four rings still looks lovely.
The pattern doesn't line up. Redo your guide lines. Check that each slice is the same width, and keep your shapes centered.
It looks too plain. Add a second layer of detail: dots between petals, a line inside each shape or a tiny circle at each point.
I can't decide what to draw. Use a different shape in each ring and try one at a time. If you get stuck, go to the next ring.
If you'd like to try the coloring part first, print one of our mandala coloring pages. The rings and patterns are already drawn, so you can focus on color. You can also use our mandala generator to make a design to color. It is free and needs no account.
Draw guide circles around a center point, divide them into eight slices and repeat a simple shape such as a petal or dot in each slice.
It helps, but it isn't required. You can trace cups, lids and bowls to make circles in different sizes.
Eight is a good choice. It gives plenty of detail without making every ring hard to space.
A simple one takes about 30 minutes. A detailed one with many rings can take an hour or more.
Yes. Use fewer rings and bigger shapes, and let them trace round objects for the circles.
