My name is Kathleen Hoffmann, and I am delighted that this book has found you. In this book, I'd like to share my passion for both painting and mandalas with you. To do this, I've compiled a selection of my paintings to give you a detailed insight into the creative process using photos and step-by-step instructions. I'll take you through the basic techniques and then I'll show you new design elements within each project, as well as how I use colours and composition. This book is intended as a creative toolbox that you can then use to create endless variations of your own mandalas. I want to do more than share tips and techniques with you though. What really drives me in my artistic work is the fascination of finding all of nature imbued within one geometric creative force. From the spiral growth pattern of a fern and the branching system of trees to the symmetry in leaves and flowers, these principles are found in every part of nature, no matter how complex or simple something is. This observation confirms to me that everything is interconnected and follows universal principles. Symbols have reflected this since time immemorial, and are found in every culture in the world. That is why symbols - such as the triskelion or the labyrinth - are recurring elements in my pictures. As an illustrator, I particularly enjoy weaving story-telling moments into my pictures. Suddenly a window is opened into another world: a smoking chimney is hidden amongst the treetops or a white cat lures you into a mysterious garden. These moments lead you into a fantasy world that encourages you to pause and dream. I would like to invite you to connect with the power of nature and symbols, and to discover and explore the endless variety of these structures as you draw, and to develop this beauty in your pictures.