You can create some interesting mandalas at this site. If you click on the asterisks, there is more information about the different elements.
Leave a brief but thoughtful comment on this post answering one or more of these questions:
- How or why do you think art could be used as therapy?
- Can you think of other pieces of or types of art that are connected to certain faiths, disciplines or movements?
- What elements/symbols did you include in your own mandala?
- What role does art play in your own life?
- If you could be any kind of artist, what would you be? Why?
My dad's side of the family is pretty Irish/Scottish and my Grammy spends a lot of her time quilting and working with fabrics and different sorts of materials like that. A lot of her work reflect her Irish heritage - she does a lot of Celtic knots and Irish lace. The art she does is connected to her faith (strongly Irish-Catholic) and her heritage.
ReplyDeleteCeltic faiths and such use art to express their faith. Native Americans also did this. As seen with face painting and sand painting and baskets. A lot of Asian religions use art as well. Statues of the Hindu gods are made. Even in Greek Religion they used statues and art work.
ReplyDeleteIn Samoan culture, tattooing is a form of art, and they've been practicing it for 2,000 years. Tattooing is a way for them to have a strong tie with their culture, and also a way for them to show their rank. I (personally) think tattoos are beautiful pieces of artwork. For my first tattoo, I want to get a lotus blossom because I love what they symbolize in Buddhist culture.
ReplyDeleteArt can, at any point, be therapeutic; it does not really matter what medium or style a person prefers. If art speaks to someone, if it is actually important to that person, then they can express themselves and art can become therapy. If they are the artist, they can take out any frustration they feel onto their art; if they are simply admiring another's work, they can (hopefully) find a connection to a certain piece that speaks to them on how they are feeling.
ReplyDeleteArt could be very effective when used in therapy because it would allow patients to express how they feel without having to talk about it if a therapist wants to know how they feel. Art is a very good detachment object you can express all your feelings onto it without having to replay it in your mind much like a diary. This would be helpful in case where therapy patients had a very traumatic experience they have difficultly talking about with others.
ReplyDeleteI think that stained glass could be connected to religion. Back in the day before most people could read they would make pictures of the bible stories in the stained glass windows. I think it was christian churches that did that but I'm not sure.
ReplyDeleteThe art work in the Book of Kells is very much like the Mandalas. The Book of Kells is an ancient Celtic bible that was hand written and drawn by monks during the 9th century. The art work within it, like the Mandalas, are very intricate and elaborate depicting stories in the bibles as well as the saints who wrote the original words.
ReplyDeleteWhile mandalas are really awesome pieces of art, I don't possesses the time, patience, and skills required to make these. If I could be any kind of artist, I would want to be a cartoonist. I really enjoy animated movies and pieces of art. There are so many ways to draw a cartoon character or figure that no style is the "right way". I enjoy the variety of the style of cartoons, allowing anyone's imagination of their "ideal cartoon" to shine through.
ReplyDeleteIf I could be any kind of artist I think I would want to be a metal sculpture artist. this is because I have always liked making things with my hands a lot more than drawing.
ReplyDeleteIn my mandala, I just included a variety of different colors that are appealing to me. When it comes to art in forma like this, it doesn't really do much for me. However, art can be a huge part of other peoples lives and be very important to them. It could be their form of escaping reality. Art can be a great way for people to express their true feelings and emotions so for lots of different people it can be a great form of therapy.
ReplyDeleteArt is everywhere, on the streets, a kindergarten art class, on the radio. Art is endless and can be therapeutic in countless ways. The architecture that is created for a homeless shelter can be just the kind of therapy a struggling soul needs. A kindergartener in his art class can be relived that he can finally color outside of the lines. Then there's always music. Everyone listens to it at one time or another, its just a matter of rather or not you let it connect to you.
ReplyDeleteThese are all such wonderful, rich answers! Thank you all!
ReplyDeleteArt can be used as therepy because some people think it's calming and soothing and helps put your feelings out there without the use of words. Art has always been an important part of my life, going to art museums, taking drawing classes in the summer. Without it, life would be so uncreative.
ReplyDeleteArt is everywhere, in all different forms, it is something that everybody appreciates; music, plain art, even story or poems. Every type of art can sooth somebody at one point in time. I can sit in my bed for hours just listening to music, I can listen to music in every mood that I am in. In Hispanic cultures there are always the Day of Dead, which is a two day festival celebrating the dead. During this time people paint skulls, and other items just to honor the dead. In my mandala I used colors that I thought would look good, there really wasn't any specific thing. Even if I can't draw, or really even look at art, I still appreciate the time the artists have taken to make this piece. I listen to music more than anything, it's something that I connect to. If I could be any kind of artist I think I would love to be a writer, I don't know if that counts as an artist but I think that is where I would love to be.
ReplyDelete1. Everyone has their own type of therapy so, if they are passionate about it and have a bad day they can get all of it out through their art work.
ReplyDeleteI think art can definitely be therapeutic. However, that is subjective, since art, just like any form of escapism, can be argued against as actually solving ones problems. I think escapism in moderation is only a positive force on ones life, and if art is that escapism for a given person, then it is therapeutic in that case. Not just creating art, but even just watching someone paint or just looking at a painting can be therapeutic and relaxing. I often recall that old TV show with Bob Ross.
ReplyDeleteArt can definitely be a form a therapy. Some people are looking for a way to express themselves and art is a gateway for that. I think art can be extremely soothing and can help people relax. There are so many different forms of art that it would be hard to say that it isn't therapeutic. For example, music is such a great way to calm me down and make me happy. I think art has a decent sized role in my life. Especially the music form of art. Considering I almost always have music playing. I used to love painting, I'd lock myself in my room and just paint for hours. Nothing specific, just whatever I felt like doing. It helps keep my mind off of things. I would say art is a decent form of therapy.
ReplyDeleteMandalas seem like they would be very therapeutic. I would compare it to writing. Both of them take a large amount of time as well as the fact that it is peaceful. I know for me, if I ever have a bad day I spend all day writing and trying to calm myself down. It helps me to focus on something else rather than the bad. The mandalas take a lot of focus and concentration which could easily help anything to get your mind off something.
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