Sep 1 - 10, 2023
Buddha Face
Start your journey in Tibetan thangka art and learn to draw your first Buddha through Carmen Mensink's signature thangka base course
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During this in-depth course, you will learn how to draw the face of the Buddha according
to the traditional Tibetan Buddhist tradition of Thangka.
Through Carmen Mensink's combination of creating art step by step, mindfulness meditation
and explanations about thangka and iconography, you will not only create a meaningful drawing,
but you will gain an experience that lasts way longer than the duration of this course.
You can start this course anytime within the above time frame and come back to it as much as
you like in between these dates. During the course availability Carmen is fully available (through the
discussion sections in this course platform and via email) to guide and support you on your drawing,
bringing each student from where they are to a higher level.
The average thangka student will take up to 1 day to complete this course and draw the
Buddha Face in black & white. If preferred, your drawing can be further worked out using shading
or colour (check out the course bundles with the Colouring Techniques course included!).
The list of art materials can be found at the bottom of this page.
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Sep 15 - Nov 12, 2023
White Tara
Learn to draw the female Buddha of Longevity, know all about her iconography and symbolism, and connect with her though her meditation & mantra
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During this in-depth course, you will learn how to draw White Tara according
to the traditional Tibetan Buddhist tradition of Thangka.
White Tara (Tib.: Drolkar) is one of the main deities in the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon
associated with Long Life. Her meditation practice, also included in this course, can be
done to prolong your life and to overcome life-threatening obstacles such as illnesses.
It is said that White Tara's seven eyes enable her to clearly 'see' all beings in the realms
of existence.
An image of White Tara can be offered to someone who's ill or who you wish a long life to,
or can be offered to a newly born baby to wish that this child may have a long life ahead.
Through Carmen Mensink's combination of creating art step by step, explaining the
Buddha's iconography, symbolism, meditation and mantra, you will not only connect with
White Tara and create a meaningful drawing, but you will gain an experience that lasts way
longer than the duration of this course.
Before the course starts, an envelope with the traditional grid proportions for drawing this
Buddha will be shipped to you, and during the course Carmen is fully available (through the
discussion sections in this course platform and via email) to guide and support you on your
drawing, bringing each student from where they are to a higher level.
You can start this course anytime within the above time frame and come back to it as
much as you like in between these dates.
The average thangka student will take up to 3 days to complete this course and draw
White Tara in black & white. If preferred, your drawing can be further worked out using
shading or colour (check out the course bundles with the Colouring Techniques course included!).
The list of art materials can be found at the bottom of this page.
This Course Bundle is for you when:
- You want to seriously start your practice in thangka art and want to learn to draw Buddhas the traditional and correct way
- You want to learn to draw White Tara but haven't taken the Drawing the Buddha Face! course yet
- You want to know the deep meanings locked up in Tibetan Buddhist Art and want to experience its meditative aspect
After this Course Bundle:
- You have drawn your own beautiful Buddha Face and White Tara according to the Tibetan Buddhist thangka tradition
- You have learned all about their symbolism and iconography, and about a beautiful, ancient tradition
- You have experienced inner peace and joy through the drawing processes, the meditations and working with the mantras, and created a meaningful connection with both buddhas
Requirements:
There are no requirements for this course bundle, as the basic Buddha Face course (which is the requirement for the White Tara course) is included. Anyone can join.
Please do note that drawing White Tara is more complicated than Medicine Buddha, so if you have little to no drawing experience you may want to consider starting with the Buddha Face + Medicine Buddha this (and draw White Tara the next time it's available).
Opportunity to do this with such an excellent teacher, in a way that I could afford
"I was so happy to find this course and this teacher especially at this moment. This is something I've wanted to study for most of my life.
To have the opportunity to do this with such an excellent teacher, in a way that I could afford, and not have to travel made it all possible. I am currently unemployed and so the finances are difficult but this was a reasonable cost, so I am grateful.
I loved learning the history and the context and the symbolism, and how to meditate with the thangka.
I also loved seeing other's creations."
Fully met my expectations
"This course has fully met my expectations. The different aspects such as meditation, drawing, explanation etc. complement each other well.
Carmen knows how to stimulate me and the others (I think) and to guide them in a subtle way: ".... very nice .... you could possibly do this or that like this".
Very pleasant.
She has a lot of knowledge of the matter and knows how to convey it clearly.
I cannot think of any points for improvement."
Annemieke Boeters, The Netherlands
Thangka Painting Retreat Italy
Thangka Painting Summer Retreat The Netherlands
You have to experience it yourself!
"I really enjoy the courses of Carmen.
Can't describe how peaceful and fulfilling it is, you have to experience it yourself!"