Kovai.co’s Girl Power Group organized an hour-long Mandala art session led by our very own Product Support Engineer, Haripriya M. After a long hiatus filled with our many sporting and fun events, Kovai.co’s Girl Power decided to organize an enjoyable and relaxing activity for the ladies. After evaluating various options such as gardening, flower arrangement, jewellery making, and makeup, it was determined that a Mandala art workshop would be the most beneficial choice. Parameswary Pandian, Manager of Product Support, expressed, “With most of us juggling multiple roles at home and the office, we wanted an activity to help women relax. Since art workshops are always popular, we chose a Mandala art workshop.”
There is growing research that shows Mandala drawing promotes positivity and has psychological benefits. Haripriya, an established Mandala artist and painter, explained, “Mandala is an ancient practice found even in our old temples, like the Rameshwaram temple. It is very soothing to focus on; the repetitions help you relax and are even a form of meditation.” Thus, the workshop, aptly titled “Artful Circles,” was conducted recently, with around 25 people registering for the event.
Haripriya explained, “Since Mandala art involves very minute detailing, I brought a mobile camera stand that focused on what I was drawing and explaining. The same was telecasted on the large screen behind me, allowing people to see and understand what must be done.”
The workshop began with Haripriya teaching us the very first step of Mandala drawing, which is drawing the grid. She explained,
First, separate the page into two halves and, using a protractor, mark points at a space of 10 degrees on both sides, based on the design you have in mind. Then join opposite lines together; they have to cross a centre point to join the other side
The next step was drawing the circles using a compass on the grid. She advised drawing smaller circles using a 360-degree protractor. Due to time constraints of an hour, we decided to distribute sheets with the grids and circles already printed.
Participants were then guided on creating patterns within the circles to start their artwork. Haripriya showed a copy of the finished work multiple times so people had an idea of how their completed work should look. She added, “I also showed them black technical pens with different tip sizes- 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, etc., which are usually used for Mandala art because the tip has to be extremely sharp for precision.”
Haripriya also lent her pens to some participants, who used them to darken some of their lines and shading, making their work look even better. Varsha Ann shared, “The workshop was extremely well conducted. Similar workshops can be quite expensive when taken outside. Watching Haripriya detailing the circles on the big screen definitely helped us improve our strokes and patterns.”
All the participants were extremely happy with their finished art pieces. Monika Mathew, a customer success specialist, exclaimed, “Honestly, when I saw the drawing after using some of Haripriya’s pens, I couldn’t believe I had created it. The whole process just felt so peaceful.” Poornima Marimuthu, an intern with Talent Acquisition, added, “I loved my drawing so much. It gave me so much satisfaction and fulfilment that I have now put it up in my workstation.”
