Creativity in Management

You spin me right round baby...

Finished reading the part in the Creativity in Business book about drawing Mandalas... I'm used to digging out a maze puzzle or drawing endless spirals while thinking up something new but never really thought about just doing circles. Although I do remember this exercise in art class, way back when, where we had to do free draw circles - grade being dependant on the perfection of the circle. Similar in nature but with a different focus. The circle is definately a powerful image / icon that seems to cross cultures and generations - cropping up in history (no pun intended).

Crop circles, circle of life, small circle of friends, circles of influence/persuasion, salt of circle to keep out the witches, circle of doom, circle of protection - centered within, encircled, circle the wagons - unlucky if you are Custer... Ring around the rosy... ring of power - alas poor Frodo. Unbroken circle, trusted circle, halo, infinite twisted circle ala Escher's mobius strip...

Mandala in Sanskrit means both circle and center... I'll have to hook up the scanner (it's SCSI not USB so it's a pain) and post up the image - unless the digital camera will pick them up ok. I noticed that I'm drawn to to the Sharpie heavy black ink and deep red... other colors work well but, again, mostly toward the darker hues (forest green, midnight blue). This was actually a great exercise to do with the rugrats at the kitchen table. I wonder what the author would say about drawing outside the circle - no mention... I was never one to color within the lines anyways... It is interesting to note that at one point or another, you can tell just when the circle or thought is just right and you move onto the next circle.

posted by William Cherry @ 9:15 PM