A Year of Stone Painting

Book excerpt: You can craft a new mandala every week for one year with this full-color guide by the author of the bestselling The Art of Stone Painting. F. Sehnaz Bac, an artist and seasoned archaeologist, presents step-by-step instructions for fifty-two projects. Her easy-to-follow guide will show you how to transform ordinary stones into inspirational works of art. The mandala — derived from the Sanskrit word for "circle" — represents the universe, and the symbol has long been instrumental to sacred rituals and meditative practices. This treasury of radiant designs presents patterns for stone paintings, each of which is accompanied by a one-word mantra — relax, tranquil, spirit, dream, believe, and other uplifting terms. A few projects are meant to be painted on sea glass, leaves, or shells, but most are based on Bac's popular interpretations of classic stone-based styles. Colorful photographs accompany simple instructions for a year of crafting inspiration.