Mandalas: Finding Transcendence in a Digital World

“The evolution of complexity often involves the weaving together of simple motifs to produce a whole fabric which, when finished, exhibits complex features of its own, in no way evident from its constituents. The fabric in turn may become part of a larger garment. This is the story of the grand evolutionary synthesis…” – Allan Combs, The Radiance of Being

I originally found the inspiration to create my own mandala designs in 2005, when I traveled to Nepal to enjoy paragliding in the Himalayas. Our base camp was near the small town of Pokhara, Nepal, home to many Tibetan refugees. The monks make their living, in part, by selling hand-painted mandalas to the tourists. The workmanship is amazing; monks spend three to six months working on a single mandala.

I have worked as a graphic artist since attending art school in the mid-70′s, first in commercial advertising, then catching the internet wave as a web site designer. Learning computer graphics and being part of the Internet revolution has been an exciting journey. I’m an unabashed computer geek. On the negative side, graphic artists are a lot like studio musicians who perform other people’s work. In commercial advertising, mid-level marketing managers call the shots. Often these are people with 3rd grade finger-painting skills. My job was simply to produce designs – any type, from cartoons, exploding 3D spreadsheets, to slick web sites. In meetings, the marketing folks would turn to me and ask, “Can you do that?”

I have designed web sites for the White House and Fortune 500 companies, including the NASDAQ Stock Exchange. Although these were heady experiences for the ego, they also left me feeling alienated and depressed. Something essential in my life was missing, not expressed. Furthermore, late in mid-life, I was running out of time.

Who could have imagined that sitting quietly next to a Tibetan monk in Nepal, patiently painting a celestial mandala, would change the direction of my life? His mandalas were a transcendental expression, devoid of anxiety and stress. Each brush stroke flowed with timeless perfection. This art was my Kensho.

At first, I believed that creating mandalas required traditional methods and designs. I experimented with oils, egg tempera, and silk screening; but these have never been my media. My tools are Photoshop, Illustrator, 3ds Max, and dozens of other graphics programs and plug-ins. Despite the prejudice that natural (“wet”) media artists often have towards digital art, this is my strength. In the digital art world, artists have a maxim to not only go beyond what the human hand can do, but go beyond what the human mind can conceive.

The mandalas I produce today follow two years of experimentation and the introduction of fractal algorithms into the process. There is a lively interplay between computer generated designs and my own expression. I usually have some feeling for the energy I want to express, for example, old and archaic, or energetic and vibrant. With that in mind, I first build the basic shapes of the design. This might be done in Ultra Fractal or 3ds Max. Next, in Photoshop I add textures and design patterns. Often, dozens of layers are used. Then, I apply Kaleidoscope and lighting filters as I explore hundreds of variations. Finally, I use the Wacom Tablet to add additional lighting by hand; this really pops the elements into 3D space. Typically, I spend 50 hours on a piece.

The printing process is very similar to high-end digital photography. I use a HP z3100 printer with HP Vivera pigment inks, that are archival. I prefer Hahnemuhle FineArt Baryta paper for maximum image definition, high Dmax, and wide color gamut.

I avoid the use of religious symbols and images. You won’t see Buddhist deities or Christian angels. This allows the viewer to resonate with the designs without a conventional interpretation. My hope is to go beyond symbols, language, politics, and religion to interact with the viewer at a deeper “transpersonal level.” This is where we share a common bond and awareness.

The term transpersonal refers to mental states that transcend the normal features of ego-functioning. In art, the artist and viewer move beyond the rational, conditioned mind and proceed to the mystical, what Abraham Maslow described as “peak experiences.” This is a very natural state and happens to most people. We need these experiences to feel grounded, connected, and alive.

For me, each mandala is a new discovery and expression. This art has become a path to joy. I’m very grateful for computers and a Tibetan Monk in Nepal. Guess that makes me a Buddhist Geek.