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Asia – Artworks and Testimonials
by the students of Carmen Mensink
Singapore – Sri Lanka – Malaysia
For many years Carmen taught each year in Singapore, taught in Malaysia, and in Sri Lanka offered several beautiful thangka retreat weeks in combination with a sightseeing tour/pilgrimage afterwards.
During the Covid-years these events were paused, but we are currently working on starting to offer new courses in Asia. Sign up for the Newsletter to stay posted on all classes, courses and retreats in Asia.
Venerable Bellanwila Dhammaratana (or more affectionately addressed as Bhante) with Carmen and her thangka group during the sightseeing tour/pilgrimage after the Thangka Painting Retreat retreat in Sri Lanka
Thangka workshops and weekend courses in Singapore and Malaysia
“It has been such a great pleasure to be able to attend this Thangka art class workshop and allowing us the ability to draw with such great amazing details. I want to thank Carmen for her patience and metta.”
Joseph Pang, Singapore
Weekend courses in Singapore
“Carmen leads students gently into the subject matter in a systematic, organised matter. I loved the combination of lectures, meditation and drawing/painting. I always find it interesting to know about the history, symbolism, and more importantly the benefits of the drawing with regards to blessing others.”
Belinda Tan, Singapore
Weekend courses in Singapore
Ellen Küppers
My expectations were exceeded in every way
My only drawing experience was the online course “draw a Buddha head” by Carmen and that was already a very good experience. The only thing I expected f...
My expectations were exceeded in every way
My only drawing experience was the online course “draw a Buddha head” by Carmen and that was already a very good experience. The only thing I expected from the Guan Yin drawing course was time to work on a drawing of “a strong woman” in a meditative way. My expectations were exceeded in every way. With great admiration I have seen Carmen working with a large group of different people. Her professional, calm and dedicated way of transferring knowledge is fantastic. Her empathic being turns a heterogeneous group into a harmonious whole. It was a wonderful experience that tastes like “more”. Thank you very much!
Ellen Küppers
Sylvia Schmidt
Teacher with a lot of patience and devotion
I started drawing Vasudhara, Buddhist bodhisattva of wealth, prosperity, and abundance in November 2019 during a retreat at the Maitreya Institute in ...
Teacher with a lot of patience and devotion
I started drawing Vasudhara, Buddhist bodhisattva of wealth, prosperity, and abundance in November 2019 during a retreat at the Maitreya Institute in Loenen, the Netherlands. In February 2020 I did the Retreat at the Paramita Meditation Center in Sri Lanka and a 4 days round tour trip. The Paramita Meditation Center is the perfect place for meditation and Thangka Painting, a very quiet place with a beautiful garden and wonderful people. I started coloring my Vasudhara during this retreat. Carmen had made a perfect schedule with meditations, enough time to draw/ color and lectures. Her knowledge and devotion is outstanding. She is having a lot of patience and a teacher with a deep devotion of the topic. She provided me a lot of help to make a very nice drawing. I am very proud and happy that I decided to do this retreat. Next to it, the round tour trip was perfectly organised and Sri Lanka is such a beautiful country. If you love Buddhism and Buddhas that is the play to go. It was a wonderful time and perfect retreat. Thank you so much Carmen, I am a blessed person.
Sylvia Schmidt
Wai Fong
One of the greatest experiences I have ever had
It was my first time attending Carmen’s Thangka painting retreat and it turned out to be one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. Carmen was ab...
One of the greatest experiences I have ever had
It was my first time attending Carmen’s Thangka painting retreat and it turned out to be one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. Carmen was able to attend to individual’s needs although it was a big class of participants with mixed experiences. I also loved it that Carmen not only taught us how to do Thangka painting, she made sure that we understood the symbolism of the deities that we were painting through the daily morning meditation and evening lectures. She also made special efforts to introduce Sri Lankan Buddhism art history to us to prepare us for our tour after the painting retreat. It was a great 10 days with an inspiring teacher, great company, wonderful accommodation at a meditation centre with delicious meals. Can’t ask for more!
Wai Fong
More info on courses in Asia
Upcoming thangka classes, workshops and retreats in Asia will be added here as well. Sign up for the Newsletter to stay posted on all future courses.
Join a course Online
Online thangka courses are offered through the School for Tibetan Buddhist Art, where you can learn how to draw or paint a Tibetan Buddha, Mandala, or Symbol from your home, while personally being guided by Carmen.
Most classes are for students on all levels – yes, also those without any drawing experience whatsoever.
Can’t wait to start your thangka journey? Join the Buddha Face Thangka Art Course today!
Types of Classes in Asia
Overview of the different kinds of Buddhist Art Courses that are offered in Asia:
In these short workshops you will get a glimpse of Tibetan Buddhist Art, and create a (small) drawing or Tibetan Amulet.
In a day workshop you can learn to draw a Buddha face, lotus flower or other Tibetan Buddhist symbols and color it by using the color pencil techniques, that will be explained as well.
The thangka day workshops offers you a good introduction in Tibetan Art.
In a weekend course (starting Fri evening) we will start to draw a Buddha, Mandala or Symbols, but -depending on how fast you are- you might have to finish your artwork at home.
In an extended weekend course (starting Thu evening) we can dive even deeper into the subject and you will most probably be able to finish your drawing.
Besides the drawing sessions, you will be guided through (short) meditations, slideshows and lectures about the meaning, symbolism and mantra of the particular subject, offering you a complete picture of the Buddhist philosophy that is connected to your Buddha or Mandala.
Coloring or painting your drawing can be done at home or during a thangka painting retreat.
Thangka Painting Retreats that last 7 to 10 days offer even more depth and practice, such as the 10-day Sri Lanka course (including sightseeing tour to the famous Buddhist sites).If you are willing to travel for it you could also join the 5 day Retreat Week at the Omega Institute (Rhinebeck, NY), or our annual Thangka Painting Retreat in Italy.
A retreat gives you a true in-depth experience of the Tibetan Thangka art & philosophy, as there’s time to learn to work with the special thangka painting techniques and/or color pencil techniques.
Besides the drawing sessions, you will be guided through (short) meditations, slideshows and lectures about the meaning, symbolism and mantra of the particular subject, offering you a complete picture of the Buddhist philosophy that is connected to your Buddha or Mandala.
In the days before or after a course in Asia, Carmen can be hired to offer individual thangka teachings.
For people who want to treat themselves to the luxury of a private course, for one person or with a few friends.
Pictures of Thangka Classes
After a thangka course, Carmen posts pictures of it on her FaceBook Page. You can also check her Instagram page for pictures.
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