Graphic Design 10 DIGITAL MANDELAS

Task: Students will create two digital mandalas using chosen graphic symbols and images and Photoshop skills. One ‘trial’ mandala of 8 facets, one of 16 or more facets.Objectives: Students will use Photoshop to manipulate a photograph or symbol. Students will learn design skills to create a pleasing composition and balanced design. Students will learn the proper use of networks and to save and manage files. Students will learn to use various Photoshop tools/skills: Lasso tool, Move tool, copy and paste,

transform scale and warping, layers and color manipulation.

RESPONDING: *1. Students will be introduced to the symbolic meaning and historical context of the word ‘mandala’.

They will learn how the design of a mandala had social and spiritual significance and the original pieces created by scholars and holy men were held in great respect and considered high art.

2. Students respond to their own making of mandalas by using the analytical processes of revising and refining chosen design, choosing appropriate sections of an initial design and evaluating their progressing design until they consider the design completed. Using symbols that represent them; a personal theme or emotion is encouraged

MAKING: *FIRST MANDALA1. Students will use the elements of design and their own creative ability, choosing (copyright

free) images and symbols to create an initial montage of balanced colour and shapes. They will use Photoshop to place these images into layers and positioning them in duplicated sizes and use colour adjustments.

2. Students will then use the polygonal lasso, transform and cutting tools in Photoshop to create a transparent ‘pie’ shape over their original montage until they have a final pie shape they wish to duplicate. In the first mandala there must be 8 facets/pies

3. Using the transform tool to edit, scale, warp and fit each pie into a completed perfect circular shape, students will then adjust their colours, background and geometrical balance to a successful conclusion. The image must be flattened, sized and saved digitally.

SECOND MANDALA: (purposely at a higher skill level than the first)

Students will search for a complex, digital mandala template from an image site (line only) with approximately 16 sections. Repeating steps 1-3, alternating two or three different pie designs within the circle then carefully compile the second mandala. This mandala can also have an added component of having a smaller circle in the center of the larger one. This will rely on the skill and concentration level of the student and is not a necessity to pass

* This arts project is in line with the assessment strands and tools required in The Australian Curriculum.The lesson plan, page-design and rubric of the assessment were written for Roleystone Community College by J Pheasant © 2013The complete lesson diagrams including the pie-template and assessment rubric can be attained with permission by contacting the College Art Department via the webpage.