Weekly Workshops

​The Creative Mandala

The Creative Mandala

​A 6-Week Journey Through Pattern, Zentangle, Neurographic Art & Collage

Slow down. Make marks. Follow your intuition. Create something beautiful.
Join me for a gentle six-week creative journey exploring the wonderful world of mandala art. Over six two-hour sessions, we will explore mandala, pattern, zentangle, neurographic drawing and collage, gradually moving from structured geometric designs towards more intuitive and expressive forms of creativity. You don't need to be "good at art" or have any previous experience.

This course is about the process rather than perfection. There is no right or wrong way to create your mandala. I will guide you step-by-step, while encouraging you to discover your own patterns, colours, shapes and creative language. For me, mandala art has always been a way of coming back to centre. My work has evolved from more than 15 years of exploring mandalas as a path towards awareness, creativity and transformation. 

What we'll explore Week 1 – Mandala: Finding Your Centre
We begin with the beautiful simplicity of the circle. You'll learn how to create a basic mandala structure and explore symmetry, repetition and balance.
Week 2 – Pattern: The Joy of Repetition
Discover how simple marks can become intricate patterns. We'll explore dots, lines, spirals, leaves, petals and geometric shapes to create your own unique patterned mandala.
Week 3 – Entangle: Let the Lines Lead
We'll loosen the structure and allow the pen to wander. Through flowing lines, organic shapes and repeated patterns, you'll create an intricate, meditative entangled mandala.
Week 4 – Neurographic Art: Following the Flow
We'll work intuitively with flowing lines, allowing shapes and connections to emerge naturally. This is an opportunity to quieten the thinking mind and see where the creative process takes you.
Week 5 – Collage Mandala: Paper, Texture & Story
We'll introduce collage, using beautiful found and recycled papers, old book pages, maps, music and other materials to build a richly layered mandala.
Week 6 – Your Personal Mandala: Bringing It All Together
In our final week, you'll bring together the techniques you've discovered—mandala, pattern, entangle, neurographic drawing and collage—to create a personal mixed-media mandala that is uniquely yours.

A space to pause
Each session will include time to settle, breathe and become present before we begin creating. As the artwork develops, you'll have the opportunity to experience the repetitive, absorbing nature of drawing and making. Mandalas can be a wonderful way of encouraging mindfulness, focus and a sense of calm, and this is at the heart of my approach to teaching.  You may arrive thinking "I'm not creative". You may leave wondering "Did I really make that?" And somewhere in between, you may discover that creativity doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes it begins with simply putting pen to paper and allowing yourself to see what happens.

No artistic experience necessary
This course is suitable for beginners and those who already enjoy drawing and making. I'll provide demonstrations and guidance throughout, but there will be plenty of freedom for you to develop your own style.

All you need to bring is yourself, an open mind and a willingness to play.  

Come and slow down.
Come and make.
Come and reconnect with your creative self.

Starting from Monday September 14th, classes will run on:

Monday mornings from 10.00am ~ 12.00pm 

 
​
Classes run in a six weekly term, and all terms are rolling.
The price per term is €220.00. ​
Venue:  Marlay Park Craft Courtyard, Rathfarnham. (Please be aware that the class  is upstairs on the first floor)

FAQ

Do you do a beginners course?

Classes are open to all levels from the complete beginner to the more advanced artist. All students work on their own tangle notebooks, so there is no pressure to keep pace with other students. An environment which contains all level of artists benefits all artists.

Are materials included?

You will be provided with a beautiful square sketchpad in which all of your designs will be created. You can take this home to continue working during the week, but please ensure not to forget it for the next session!! For the first week, I will provide materials and I will give you a list of suggested materials so that you can begin to have your own collection which you can use at home and bring to class to use in the following weeks. 


What do I need to bring with me?

All you need to bring is yourself, your art supplies (if you have them!)


Testimonials
I found the session so relaxing and enjoyable. The meditation at the start was really lovely. I had actually been feeling rather depressed earlier after hearing the latest Covid-19 stats and the recent non-stop bad news, but I feel so much better now. Thanks a million!
Susan, Dublin
 
I really enjoyed this Mandala Workshop :-)   I found it so very interesting, informative and also with the meditation, helped put me in a very soft, gentle place with no pressure or expectations.  I found Patricia to be a great teacher, with so many examples and explanations of mandalas and their relationships to Sacred Geometry and different cultures including Tibetan monks - whom I had seen in Trinity College,years ago, making a sand mandala and then on another day we joined many people following the monks to the Liffey, into which the sand was let fall.

Since then I have had a passing interest, but now, with Patricia’s explanations, interest and enthusiasm I hope to pursue this wonderful art form. This workshop was a real treat . Many thanks Patricia and I hope to meet with you sometime and to let you know you are a real inspiration and I enjoyed so much your presentation.  My first time on Zoom and I’m Buzzing :-) xx
Mary, Dublin

Myself and my partner really enjoyed the workshop last night. We really liked all elements of Patricia's class; the meditation was very soothing, the presentation was really interesting, the mandala drawing tutorial was inspiring and made us both want to give it a go ourselves immediately afterwards!
Maeve, Dublin

About:

Patricia Fitzgerald is a visual artist located in Dublin, Ireland. Her main focus is on the art of Mandala and the power of mandala as a tool for the expansion of consciousness. Her internationally selling work has been exhibited extensively in Ireland. As well as creating stunningly detailed mandalas, she also hosts workshops and retreats in Ireland and abroad on Mandala creation and meditation. She is a part of the creative collective outlet 300 Acres who are situated in the Courtyard at Marlay Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin. (opening April 2018)

Patricia studied Visual Education and Communication at Dun Laoghaire College of Art & Design (IADT) and also holds a first class honours degree in Philosophy and Sociology from University College, Dublin where she was also awarded a post graduate scholarship.

Her first book Healing Creations: Discover your mindful self through mandala colouring and journaling (Collins Press 2016) contains forty hand drawn mandalas for you to engage with, positive quotations and wisdom from many of the world's best thinkers plus meditation. It is available in all good bookstores in Ireland and globally on Amazon. She is currently working on her second book on personal development with Mentor Books.

In 2021, she went through breast cancer treatment and has now thankfully come out the other side. It was an experience that was and continues to be a great teacher to her on the importance of gratitude and in being connected to one's body in a very holistic way. 

Patricia has featured on The RTE Today Show, Irish Times, Sunday Business Post, Victoria Mary Clarke's The Art of Living Show, Derry City FM's Arts show, Positive Life, Live Encounters, The Dublin Enquirer and on many other radio shows and magazine features.

Patricia was a Senior Librarian and Arts Officer with South Dublin Libraries for over 27 years until she changed her career in 2017 to pursue her passion for art and meditation practice full time.