level-0 -thank you. Here is a triangle based mandala.

Great mandalas Erisian and OMG you are both so talented

Erisian and OMG, what did you use to get the 3D look in your last mandalas? I tried with the lighting effects filter but am not getting lighting as good as yours.

Teapot - thank you for your kind words.

In this one I started with a stroked path, then applied Graechan's 'Shine' script which, whilst it is old, I have got it working under Gimp 2.10.

If you wish I can post a copy of it for you to load into Gimp.

Yes please OMG, I would love to try the script

OK here it is!

OMG and teapot,I enjoy with your creations!
OMG, the golden texture is superb
teapot, the pattern used reminds me of old bronze frames

OMG,I will also try your script, thanks

Awesome work everyone. Very much like teapot's latest.

Teapot - I used G'MIC's relief light filter to get the 3D effect in my last image. Play with darkness, ambient light and light smoothing. Sadly the preview isn't very accurate so it's a bit hit and miss.

Some more mandalas made using temporary brushes and gradients created from photos taken at Orakei Korako thermal park.

level_0, Well spotted, it was made from a bronze texture.

Erisian, Thank you for your comments. That's a clever use of the filter, G'MIC has so much going on I find it hard to know what filters should be used when. Have been trying the relief light filter, seems to need the right image to start with so I need to experiment more. Just noticed the illuminate 2D shape filter too.

OMG, Really lovely mandalas. The first is my favourite and it has an impressive effect of depth.
Thank you for the very useful script, I'm going to practise a lot more but an initial tryout:

Great, OMG
For the first, I like its real appearance, its curved geometric lines giving softness,the light, the contrasts.
For the second, I like the finesse of the lines, the light gradient, it emerges a mysterious, esoteric aspect.

teapot,initial tryout successful

level_0 - wow; your image descriptions are themselves a work of art

Here is one, building on Teapopt's use of 'wrought iron' I made a brush then gave it a copper gradient background.

Fine work OMG, a lovely filigree effect

Just practising lighting based on the shine script.

Teapot - thank you, but you must share your own accolades as you instigated the idea

Just paisley

Very nice OMG, loving the patterns you've made with the paisley and the colours and textures

Mine are simplistic but I adjusted the lighting on the previous one so hopefully it looks something like wrought iron now and attempted some gold-ish.

Teapot - the old adage is 'simple but effective'

Using my green gradient made from photos taken at Orakei Korako and some custom brushes, here are two mandalas, one delicate filigree and one paisley.

I'll keep pushing the barrow on this thread, as I'm having a lot of fun trying out different things 'mandala like'.

They are all very beautiful, OMG.

Love them both OMG. I've no idea how you achieve the 3D effect in the first one, it's superb.

Pat - thank you for your kind words.

Teapot - thank you too; the 3D effect is just an illusion formed by the inwardly curving frame and the smaller background with a black surround. No other effects used.

A couple more using symmetry painting and then some post processing.