My Mandala Artquilt

Mandala - central image - (c)Pat Dolan 2011

Once upon a time, around 2005 or so, I created a batik on silk with an original and very organic mandala design. I liked it a lot, but didn't know quite how to finish it off. The design is circular, but the silk was an irregular squarish shape that I cut off from a long plain silk scarf. I was just going to play around and have some fun with wax and without a plan. This is what evolved.

After removing the wax, I added gold gutta to the central image where the wax had been. The gold seemed best suited to accenting only the center, so the other previously waxed-out areas remain the original white of the scarf.


Fast forward to this week when I finally decided to free-motion quilt the piece I want it DONE. Partly because I love the mandala and all that it symbolizes. And partly because I love this particular design and the soft colors therein - I want to hang it in my studio.

The outer corners remain unfinished - I don't know how I'll finish them off just yet, but I have an idea or two. Here it is, so far.

Mandala (work in progress) - approx. 20" square - (c)Pat Dolan 2011