Mandala Painting for Beginners – What You Really Need
When you first fall in love with mandala art, it’s tempting to buy every single tool and color that flashes across your screen. I know—because I did exactly that. A week later I was staring at a pile of expensive supplies I barely touched. So here’s my honest advice: start small. Try the hobby first, see how it feels in your hands and in your heart, and only then build your collection.
Start with a Simple Beginner’s Set
You don’t need a studio full of gear to make beautiful mandalas. An affordable starter set—whether from me or any other source—can save you both money and frustration. It gives you just enough to explore without overwhelming you with choices or unnecessary expenses.
Surfaces: Smooth and Forgiving
From my own experience, ready-made plaster stones and a well-primed wooden board are the easiest way to begin. You can find perfectly shaped, pre-cast stones on Etsy—no need to buy molds and plaster yet. Their smooth surface is ideal for learning how the paint behaves and for practicing smaller swipes and patterns without fighting rough textures.
Paint: Reliable and Easy to Use
I recommend the Marabu 80-color set (3.5 ml each). It’s not too thick, not too runny, and it doesn’t dry out quickly. You can get it on Amazon, and it will give you enough shades to experiment without breaking the bank.
Tools: Everything in One Starter Kit
A basic dotting set is really all you need at first—and the good news is that many Amazon kits include dotting tools, a stencil for circles and lines, and even some extras in one package. This way you don’t have to hunt for separate items. Add a white erasable pencil for sketching guidelines (press lightly!), and you’re ready to go.
Protective Finish
For sealing your work, I recommend DecoArt DuraClear Matte Varnish. Despite the “matte” label, it has a subtle satin sheen, dries quickly, and offers excellent protection when applied with a soft, wide brush. A spray varnish can also work. I don’t suggest using boat varnish—it tends to yellow over time.
Priming
Any acrylic paint will do for priming your surface. I usually apply two coats for a solid base before starting to paint.
This isn’t a sponsored post or a paid promotion
I don’t get any money for recommending these products—these are simply the things I’ve tried and loved, and they’ve worked well for me.
Starting this way keeps your investment small, your learning curve gentle, and your enthusiasm high. Later, when you’re sure mandala painting has captured your heart, you can happily explore more colors, molds, and advanced tools—without the regret of having spent too much too soon.
My First Attempts – How My Journey with Mandalas Began...
... in May 2022.
I always felt that I wanted to create something with my hands. It was my dream to bring something to life out of nothing. But somehow, nothing truly captured me.
Then one day I saw a mandala stone. Maybe on Instagram – I don’t even remember exactly. But in that moment, I knew: I want to paint one too.
I had no idea about anything. I didn’t know about paints, plaster stones… I just ordered everything I could find on Amazon. Natural stones, a dotting tool set, a stencil (which I still haven’t used), and of course, paint.
When everything arrived, I excitedly started dotting. After half an hour, I gave up. The dots didn’t look nice, nothing turned out the way I imagined. (Now I know the paint was too thick.) I left everything on the table just as it was and didn’t look at it again for weeks.
Then one day I somehow sat down again. I continued. I’m not the type to give up easily.
I ordered another type of paint and tried on wooden discs – but the dots still didn’t look good. Then came a porcelain plate, and with the new paint it finally looked quite nice. I was starting to understand what the right paint consistency should be.
Meanwhile, I watched videos and saw that many artists use medium. I ordered that too. From then on, it was just a matter of experimenting until all my paints had the right consistency. With the help of the medium, I could finally make them work the way I wanted.
From that point on, I couldn’t stop anymore. I spent all my free time painting. I painted, took photos, and of course sent them to my family. Poor them.