Learn how to draw sunburst mandala patterns using rays, dots, circles and borders. Start Lesson 17 and create a bold mandala design.
Course: Mandala Art Academy
Module: Intermediate Designs
Lesson: 17
Skill level: Intermediate
Practice time: 45 to 60 minutes
Welcome to Lesson 17
Sunburst mandala patterns are bold, bright and full of movement. They are created using repeated rays that spread outward from the centre, similar to sunlight radiating in every direction.
In earlier lessons, you learnt how to draw petals, leaves, dots, borders, lotus patterns, paisley designs, floral mandalas and geometric mandalas. In this lesson, you will combine those skills to create a mandala that feels energetic and powerful.
A sunburst mandala may look dramatic when completed, but the process is simple when you divide the design into clear sections. You will begin with a centre point, create circular guidelines, draw repeated rays and then decorate each layer with dots, lines and small patterns.
What is a sunburst mandala?
A sunburst mandala is a circular design made of rays, triangles, pointed petals, straight lines and decorative borders that radiate outward from the centre.
The main feature is the outward movement. Every shape should guide the eye from the centre towards the edge of the mandala.
Sunburst designs can be sharp and geometric, soft and floral or a combination of both. You can create them using triangles, long petals, flame shapes, teardrops, dots and repeated line textures.
Why are sunburst patterns useful in mandala art?
Sunburst patterns help you practise direction and rhythm.
They teach you how to make every element point outward from the centre. This creates a strong sense of energy and balance.
These designs are also useful when you want your mandala to look bold and eye-catching. A simple sunburst ring can make even a small mandala look more complete.
You can use sunburst patterns in the centre, middle layers or outer borders of your artwork.
What will you learn in this lesson?
By the end of Lesson 17, you will understand how to create a sunburst grid, draw long and short rays, alternate ray sizes, combine triangles with petals and decorate sunburst layers using dots, lines and small borders.
You will also learn how to keep the rays evenly spaced and how to prevent the design from becoming too crowded.
The final practice exercise will guide you through a complete sunburst mandala using concentric circles, pointed rays, dotted borders and layered decoration.
Materials needed
Use drawing paper, a pencil, an eraser, a compass, a ruler and a black fineliner or gel pen.
A protractor is helpful for dividing the circle evenly, but it is not compulsory.
You may also use colour pencils, sketch pens, brush pens, metallic pens or markers after completing the outline.
Keep a practice sheet nearby so that you can test ray shapes before adding them to your mandala.
Step 1: Prepare the sunburst grid
Mark a centre point on your page.
Draw five concentric circles around the centre. The smallest circle will guide the centre design. The next circles will help you decide the length of each ray.
Draw one vertical line and one horizontal line through the centre.
Add two diagonal lines to divide the mandala into eight equal sections.
For a more detailed sunburst design, divide each section again to create sixteen equal spaces.
Keep all guidelines light so they can be erased after inking.
Step 2: Create the centre circle
Draw a small circle around the centre point.
Inside it, add one dot, a small flower or a tiny diamond shape.
Keep the centre simple because the rays around it will already create strong visual impact.
You may also draw short lines around the centre circle to make it look like a small glowing sun.
Step 3: Draw the first layer of short rays
Around the centre circle, draw small outward-pointing triangles.
Place one triangle in each section of the grid.
Begin with the top, bottom, left and right triangles. Then add the diagonal triangles.
Make sure every triangle begins close to the centre circle and points outward towards the next circular guideline.
This first ray layer creates the foundation of the sunburst pattern.
Step 4: Add longer rays between the short rays
Between every two short rays, draw one longer pointed ray.
These longer rays should extend to the next circular guideline.
They can look like narrow triangles, pointed petals or flame shapes.
Alternating short and long rays creates rhythm and makes the sunburst pattern look more dynamic.
Check that the longer rays are similar in height before outlining them with pen.
Step 5: Create a double-ray layer
Draw a smaller ray inside each larger ray.
Follow the same shape and leave a small space between the outer and inner lines.
This creates a double-layer ray.
You can leave the inner ray empty or decorate it with a centre line, dots or short strokes.
Double rays add detail without changing the overall structure of the design.
Step 6: Add a dotted ring
Draw a circular guideline around the first ray layer.
Add evenly spaced dots along the circle.
Begin with four dots at the top, bottom, left and right points. Add dots at the diagonal points and then fill the spaces between them.
A dotted ring softens the sharp ray shapes and creates a decorative pause before the next layer.
Step 7: Draw a second sunburst layer
Outside the dotted ring, draw another row of rays.
This time, make the rays wider and taller.
Position each new ray between the rays of the previous layer. This staggered placement creates depth and avoids a crowded look.
You may use pointed petals instead of straight triangles for a softer sunburst.
Keep the tips aligned with the outer circular guideline.
Step 8: Add line texture inside the rays
Choose one ray layer for line decoration.
Draw short straight lines from the base of each ray towards the tip.
You may also draw one centre line inside each ray and add smaller diagonal lines on both sides.
Keep the line texture consistent in all matching rays.
Do not fill every ray layer with heavy lines. Too many internal lines can make the design look busy.
Step 9: Create flame-style rays
To make the sunburst feel more expressive, draw rays with slightly curved sides.
Begin at the base, curve outward and bring the lines together at a pointed tip.
These shapes resemble small flames.
Flame-style rays work well in outer layers because they add movement and drama.
Repeat the same curve direction in every matching ray so the pattern remains balanced.
Step 10: Add small circles at the ray tips
Place one small circle or dot at the tip of every long ray.
This creates a decorative crown effect.
You may also place one dot between every two rays.
Dots at the tips help finish the sharp shapes neatly and make the outer ring look more polished.
Step 11: Create an outer border
Draw two circles around the completed sunburst layers.
Inside the border, repeat a simple pattern such as dot, line, dot, line.
You may also use small triangles, scallops or arches.
If the sunburst rays are already detailed, keep the border simple.
The outer border should frame the design, not overpower it.
Step 12: Review the balance before inking
Before outlining the design, check the spacing of the rays.
Look at opposite sides of the mandala and compare the length of the rays.
Check whether the long rays are evenly placed and whether the smaller rays fit comfortably between them.
Make corrections in pencil before using ink.
Once you are happy with the structure, outline the centre first and slowly move outward.
How can you keep sunburst rays equal?
Use circular guidelines to control the length of each ray.
Use radial guidelines to control the direction.
Draw opposite rays first. Complete the top and bottom rays, then the left and right rays, then the diagonal rays.
This makes it easier to compare size and alignment.
If you are drawing sixteen rays, lightly mark all sections before adding detailed shapes.
How can you make the sunburst pattern look energetic?
Use alternating long and short rays.
Add pointed shapes that direct the eye outward.
Create contrast by leaving some rays empty and decorating others with lines or dots.
Use repeated dots near the ray tips to create sparkle.
When colouring, use warm shades such as yellow, orange, coral, red or gold to strengthen the sunburst feeling.
How can you soften a sharp sunburst mandala?
Add circular borders between ray layers.
Use rounded dots near the tips.
Draw curved flame-style rays instead of only straight triangles.
Add small petals or scallops along the outer edge.
This combination helps the design feel bold but not harsh.
Beginner practice exercise
Draw a small centre circle and divide the surrounding area into eight equal sections.
Add eight short triangles around the centre.
Draw eight longer rays between them.
Add a dotted circle around the first sunburst layer.
Create a second layer using wider pointed petals.
Decorate the inner rays with centre lines and the outer rays with dots near the tips.
Finish with a simple line-and-dot border.
This exercise will help you practise direction, repetition, spacing and layer control.
Intermediate practice exercise
Divide your mandala into sixteen equal sections.
Draw sixteen narrow rays around the centre.
Add sixteen longer flame-style rays between them.
Create a dotted border, followed by another layer of alternating triangles and small circles.
Decorate every alternate ray with short line texture.
Leave the remaining rays empty to create contrast.
Finish with a clean circular border and small dots around the outer edge.
Common mistakes to avoid when drawing sunburst mandalas
Avoid drawing rays without guidelines. Even small spacing mistakes become very visible in sunburst patterns.
Do not make every ray layer the same size. The design looks stronger when ray length increases gradually outward.
Avoid filling every ray with heavy decoration.
Do not rush the pointed tips because uneven tips can disturb the circular balance.
Avoid making the outer border too complicated when the sunburst itself is already detailed.
Do not erase pencil marks until the ink has dried fully.
How can you make a sunburst mandala look more professional?
Keep the centre clean and clear.
Use consistent ray shapes within each layer.
Align all ray tips with circular guidelines.
Repeat the same decoration in matching sections.
Use dots and circles to soften the sharp points.
Leave enough white space between heavily decorated layers.
Use a limited colour palette so that the structure remains visible.
Colouring ideas for sunburst mandala patterns
Use yellow in the centre and gradually move towards orange, red or gold in the outer layers.
For a calmer version, use peach, coral, cream and light brown.
For a modern design, use black and white with only one accent colour.
You may also colour long rays in one shade and short rays in another.
Repeat the same colour sequence around the entire mandala so the design remains balanced.
Homework for Lesson 17
Create one complete sunburst mandala with at least three layers.
Include one centre circle, one short-ray layer, one long-ray layer and one outer border.
Use dots or small circles to soften the sharp ray shapes.
Decorate only selected rays with line texture and leave some rays empty.
Complete the design in black and white or use a warm colour palette.
After finishing, observe whether the rays look evenly spaced and whether the design feels energetic without becoming crowded.
Creative challenge
Create two sunburst mandalas using the same grid.
In the first design, use straight triangle rays for a bold geometric look.
In the second design, use curved flame-style rays for a softer flowing look.
Keep the number of layers the same.
Compare how changing only the ray shape changes the mood of the final mandala.
Key takeaways from Lesson 17
A sunburst mandala is created using repeated rays that spread outward from the centre.
Alternating long and short rays creates rhythm and energy.
Circular and radial guidelines help keep the rays evenly spaced.
Dots and small circles soften sharp geometric shapes.
Line texture can add detail, but it should not be used everywhere.
White space helps the sunburst pattern remain clean and readable.
A strong sunburst mandala depends on direction, repetition and balance.
Lesson summary
In Lesson 17, you learnt how to draw sunburst mandala patterns using centre circles, short rays, long rays, flame-style shapes, dots, line textures and outer borders.
You also learnt how to create movement, soften sharp shapes and maintain symmetry using clear guidelines.
Sunburst patterns are perfect when you want your mandala to feel bold, bright and full of energy. The same techniques can be used in future designs as centre motifs, outer borders or complete mandala compositions.
Previous lesson: Lesson 16: Spiral mandala designs
Next lesson: Lesson 18: Decorative Mandala Borders
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