Welcome to the Inspiration Gallery! Here displayed are the artworks that were created during the online Buddha Face Thangka Art course and the White Tara Thangka Art Course with Carmen Mensink, Edition 2022, at the School for Tibetan Buddhist Art.
These traditional Tibetan artworks are made by people from all over the world, and both with and without any drawing experience. Not only express these images the enlightened Buddha mind, they also convey the beauty, love and dedication of the maker. 🙏🏼
Isn’t each and every one of them amazing?
Susan van Breda
I have no drawing experience. This was my first drawing class.
It was interesting and coloring in the Buddha was very relaxing just like meditating. The course was easier than I thought it would be as it was so we...
I have no drawing experience. This was my first drawing class.
It was interesting and coloring in the Buddha was very relaxing just like meditating. The course was easier than I thought it would be as it was so well explained and the grids were very clear and helpful. I have no drawing experience. This was my first drawing class.
Susan van Breda
Melissa Riordan
History of thanka art, and learning more about the symbology
Connecting w/ the Buddha and being present in a positive way. Also liked the history of thanka art, and learning more about the symbology. Thank you:)
Charlene
Thank you for the encouragement along the way
It feels so good to finally complete the project of drawing a White Tara. I heard a whisper from the universe to draw a Tara a couple of years ago, wh...
Thank you for the encouragement along the way
It feels so good to finally complete the project of drawing a White Tara. I heard a whisper from the universe to draw a Tara a couple of years ago, which led me to the journey of thangka drawing. I completed a few of thangka drawing courses with Carmen prior taking the White Tara course. Thank you, Carmen for sharing your step-by-step thangka drawing process and for the encouragement along the way. Thank you, Tara, the cat, for cheering me on along the way too.
Charlene
Irina Holub
Here’s my daughter Iulia’s Buddha Face!
This course was such a joyful experience! I actually bought the online classes for my 13 year old-daughter Iulia who had been spontaneously drawing Bu...
Here’s my daughter Iulia’s Buddha Face!
This course was such a joyful experience! I actually bought the online classes for my 13 year old-daughter Iulia who had been spontaneously drawing Buddhas during the Dharma classes ever since she was a little child and attended the Dharma classes with me sitting for hours quietly, listening to the teachings and just drawing Buddhas out of her imagination. She goes to an art school but she has never attended a Thangka course before so I thought that was my perfect gift for her. I knew my daughter is able to do magic when it comes to art that’s why I have always encouraged her to continue on her path but what was truly magical for me in this course was the fact that I was able to draw a Buddha face, too! I still can’t believe it and I feel as happy and delighted as a baby who managed to walk for the first time in their life 🙂 because I have never in my life had not even the slightest talent when it comes to drawing or painting. I am 41 years old and I haven’t drawn since I was a child. I have zero experience and because of that I feel so amazingly happy that I managed to draw the face of a Buddha! My drawing is definitely not perfect but it is the perfect proof for the fact that if you have the karma of meeting or seeing an incredible Teacher like Carmen Mensink in your reality, who in my eyes and in my heart is an angel in disguise, you can create everything you want not only for yourself but for all sentient beings because such a teacher comes from the purest place in our heart. I am looking forward to attending the next two classes I bought. My heart is full of gratitude. Thank you!
Irina Holub
Kathy Bennett
The experience was special because White Tara is so beautiful and kind
This is my sixth course I’ve taken with Carmen and, as always, I loved it! It was wonderful drawing a female buddha for a change, and the experience wa...
The experience was special because White Tara is so beautiful and kind
This is my sixth course I’ve taken with Carmen and, as always, I loved it! It was wonderful drawing a female buddha for a change, and the experience was special because White Tara is so beautiful and kind. I’m carefully choosing the colors I want to use for White Tara, which is why I’ve submitted a pencil drawing at this point – I don’t want to rush it. Thank you once again Carmen, for a spirital, enjoyable, learning experience! Can’t wait. until the next class! xoxoxo
Kathy Bennett
Lisa Evert
So rich and well done
I enjoyed this class so much – including learning about the mantra and the symbolism. So rich and well done.
Lisa Louise Adams
My first experience with a grid and it was so fun
Love your calm ease and generous teachings. This was my first experience with a grid and it was so fun. Thank you!
Francis
Everything clear and with a lot of background information
I enjoyed the course again, everything clear and with a lot of background information.
Unfortunately I didn’t get as far as I wanted, my garden and pup...
Irina Holub
I have zero experience and feel so amazingly happy that I managed to draw the face of a Buddha!
This course was such a joyful experience! I actually bought the online classes for my 13 year old-daughter Iulia who had been spontaneously drawing Bu...
I have zero experience and feel so amazingly happy that I managed to draw the face of a Buddha!
This course was such a joyful experience! I actually bought the online classes for my 13 year old-daughter Iulia who had been spontaneously drawing Buddhas during the Dharma classes ever since she was a little child and attended the Dharma classes with me sitting for hours quietly, listening to the teachings and just drawing Buddhas out of her imagination. She goes to an art school but she has never attended a Thangka course before so I thought that was my perfect gift for her. I knew my daughter is able to do magic when it comes to art that’s why I have always encouraged her to continue on her path but what was truly magical for me in this course was the fact that I was able to draw a Buddha face, too! I still can’t believe it and I feel as happy and delighted as a baby who managed to walk for the first time in their life 🙂 because I have never in my life had not even the slightest talent when it comes to drawing or painting. I am 41 years old and I haven’t drawn since I was a child. I have zero experience and because of that I feel so amazingly happy that I managed to draw the face of a Buddha! My drawing is definitely not perfect but it is the perfect proof for the fact that if you have the karma of meeting or seeing an incredible Teacher like Carmen Mensink in your reality, who in my eyes and in my heart is an angel in disguise, you can create everything you want not only for yourself but for all sentient beings because such a teacher comes from the purest place in our heart. I am looking forward to attending the next two classes I bought. My heart is full of gratitude. Thank you!
Irina Holub
Carol R.
Working with Tara brought out such love in myself
I liked the engagement over the few weeks, just knowing that the work was in progress created some sort of connection. Now that the course is over, I ...
Working with Tara brought out such love in myself
I liked the engagement over the few weeks, just knowing that the work was in progress created some sort of connection. Now that the course is over, I don’t want to lose the connection I made. I tried the sleep methods using the mantra … interesting, effective! I’m never disappointed in these classes as my expectation of being exposed to a little bit of the magic of the Buddhas is always met. Working with Tara brought out such love in myself and I wallowed in it all and made it big wherever I was and whenever I could.
I am happy that Lama Yeshe’s name came up in conversation as I have his book, The Bliss of Inner Fire. Now I will read this (in the past, I picked at areas of it).
Carol R.
Sabine Schwarz
Without Carmen’s guidance I had never come to this result
What a wonderful dreamlike journey was this course, accompanied by this mantra. Many thanks to our great teacher Carmen. Her profound knowledge is ama...
Without Carmen’s guidance I had never come to this result
What a wonderful dreamlike journey was this course, accompanied by this mantra. Many thanks to our great teacher Carmen. Her profound knowledge is amazing and without her steadfast guidance and endless patience with which she answered all my questions, I had never come to this result. Carmen has such an inspiring and positive energy around her, and with this she welcomed all insecurities and guided me calm and encouaging to the drawing that lies now in front of me: the wonderful female Buddha: my White Tara!
Carmen, thank you so much!! This Tara was an enormous effort, sometimes I thought, it might be too much – but now I feel such a joy … INFINITE JOY, that you helped me to hold through! 🙏
Sabine Schwarz
Manja
Without any drawing experience, but with a lot of love for Tibetan Buddhism
It was a pleasure for me (without any drawing experience, but with a lot of love for Tibetan Buddhism, to have been able to follow this course. Thank ...
Without any drawing experience, but with a lot of love for Tibetan Buddhism
It was a pleasure for me (without any drawing experience, but with a lot of love for Tibetan Buddhism, to have been able to follow this course. Thank you very much for that. The combi mindfulness meditation, the Buddhist backgrounds make drawing an in-depth experience. I am very much looking forward to the White Tara course starting this week.
Manja
Margot Groenenboom
Important for me was the depth in the course
Hello Carmen,
Here is my white Tara, I really enjoyed the course. It was inspiring, meaningful and important for me was the depth in the course; the c...
Important for me was the depth in the course
Hello Carmen,
Here is my white Tara, I really enjoyed the course. It was inspiring, meaningful and important for me was the depth in the course; the combination of practicing with meditating and singing the mantra, knowing the meaning behind the mantra and making connection with Tara combined with creating and drawing. Again I am so grateful, thank you so much.
Margot Groenenboom
Ivy
We loved the meditative aspect as well as the creative aspect
My partner Paul and I did the course together as a way to connect spiritually and playfully. We loved the meditative aspect as well as the creative as...
We loved the meditative aspect as well as the creative aspect
My partner Paul and I did the course together as a way to connect spiritually and playfully. We loved the meditative aspect as well as the creative aspect. We loved interpreting our Buddhas as ‘mirrors into our own minds’ and ‘reading’ our drawings as insights into our own minds and personalities.
Ivy
Susan van Breda
I was surprised that I was able to complete the project so easily as it looked really challenging
I loved the course! I really enjoyed learning more about White Tara and the Buddhist practice as well as the meditations. I was surprised that I was a...
I was surprised that I was able to complete the project so easily as it looked really challenging
I loved the course! I really enjoyed learning more about White Tara and the Buddhist practice as well as the meditations. I was surprised that I was able to complete the project so easily as it looked really challenging when the grids arrived in the post and I wondered if I could do it. .
Susan van Breda
Cecilia
Enjoyed a lot!
Thank you for the course! I enjoyed a lot!
Barry
This course has been a strong artistic experience
Excellent course, as always. Carmen routinely goes beyond what is expected for these courses I will continue using the wonderful lessons she provided ...
This course has been a strong artistic experience
Excellent course, as always. Carmen routinely goes beyond what is expected for these courses I will continue using the wonderful lessons she provided and will be doing more Taras over summer for other projects. This course has been a strong artistic experience and has provided me with a sublime spiritual link to The White Tara!
Barry
Kathleen Majka
I have learned and integrated a lot from this process
I want to color my Buddha but just in case I get lost here is a picture as of today. I am grateful for being introduced to Carmen thru Instagram (Inst...
I have learned and integrated a lot from this process
I want to color my Buddha but just in case I get lost here is a picture as of today. I am grateful for being introduced to Carmen thru Instagram (Instagram can be a source of inspiration). This is my second class with Carmen and have learned and integrated a lot from this process. I have made a personal goal to take one class each year with Carmen. Next year will be Tara❣️
Kathleen Majka
Janis Cooper
Challenges can be good and the instructions were great
Beautiful course with beautiful graphics. This course has been more challenging than the last two. But challenges can be good and the instructions wer...
Challenges can be good and the instructions were great
Beautiful course with beautiful graphics. This course has been more challenging than the last two. But challenges can be good and the instructions were great. All that was needed was patience. I have more work to do before she is finished but I’m very pleased with the progress to date. Thank you Carmen.
Janis Cooper
Sheila Odessey
I thought it was a great practice
I loved drawing Tara. I thought it was a great practice. I liked listening to Carmen reciting the mantra while drawing. I found this much more difficu...
Wendy
The colouring course helped me tremendously
I liked learning about the background of the Thangkas.
I had hoped for more help with the actual drawing of the Lord Buddha like tips and techniques. ...