I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. I liked how the art lessons were broken down so that I didn’t feel overwhelmed. I also enjoyed learning about the history of the Thangka, and participating in the meditations. I feel that it was an all around great course, and I’m glad that I got to participate.
I feel that the drawing video was the most useful to me. I liked how the individual lines were shown step by step on the video.

My expectations going into the course where to get more in touch with the aspects of buddhism regarding the drawing of the Buddha.
I was surprised on how well structured and detailed explanations were available for each step.
The history before the drawing classes i believe add so much value because it brings the attention of the importance and significance of this tradition. On top of that, meditation was key to focus and be able to concentrate on the class.

Goede cursus, met duidelijke instructies. De cursus online pakte beter uit voor mij dan verwacht. Ik had al ervaring met tekenen via Carmen’s cursussen op locatie.

I liked the course and the meditation before starting the course.

I really enjoyed the course and the focus on Buddhist traditions particularly as they relate to thangkas, methods and lineage. Its not just a “drawing”course but an education on the buddhist path to enlightenment through traditional thangka art.

The background information and the step by step drawing guide were very helpfull. It was an opportunity to do this e-course and it was very joyfull. I loved the information about the Buddhism and the step for step explanation for drawing the Buddhaface. Also very good was if you asked a question, the answer became very quick. I am very satisfied about this course.

My expectations for the course were exceeded! I hoped to experience the meditative aspect of drawing sacred art, which I certainly did. I didn’t expect to learn so much about the history and use of thangkas, which I loved, and definitely didn’t expect to be so happy with my drawing, which I am!

Hi Carmen.
I’m still working on finishing of my Buddha face but wanted to send to you ,so you can see where I am at.
I haven’t worked with color pencil in a while. 🙂 I’ve been having fun tho!
Here is what I got so far:

I am Doing the background in acrylics.

I want to bring up that it has been a very meditative work and a lots of thought keep coming in to my mind. I have been notice how it interfere on my painting. Even when I have thought that are not so pleasant, I notice I get more sloppy. And I have practice coming back to my relaxed enjoyable state of mind.
Also looking at Buddha face have been feeling like Buddha is looking at me, and I apologize at times for thinking or judging people or Situations. Like asking for forgiveness. And then I remember that You said that is a reflection of ourselves, so I change it to apologize to myself and forgive myself for those human feelings.

It’s been a very great process.

To connect to my art , creativity, myself and the Divinity of all of it.

Also my cat have been jumping on my Thangka drawing and I get a little nervous so it’s also another exercise, i remember that you teach about the animals. So I replace my nervous acting with put him on my lap and start to pet him.

Practice, practice, practice 🙂
I really appreciate learning with you.

And I am very grateful!

Thank you so much for your patience.

Much love
Aloha🌺
Camila

This was (is) a beautiful, meditative experience which is helping me get through this difficult time. I look forward to taking another class in the future.

I appreciated Carmens knowledge of tibetan history and iconology as an essential part of the workshop, besides the technical aspects, which were also very clear.
Oh, and I do like her shop!

Thanks for the teachings, I never thought I could do a Buddha face!
An amazing journey… Thank you Carmen!

I already followed an onsite course of drawing the Buddha Face in Den Haag.
But now I had more time and being able to look back several times to the Iconography and the Colours was one of the aspects I really appreciated.

It was great, and I learned a lot, Thank you Carmen! The most difficult part was seeing/ understanding how the Buddha’s eyes are not as open as depicted, so more practice Needed! Very clear instructions and the supporting info very helpful.

I loved the depth of this course: intention meditation, mantras, learning about the history of Thangka and Tibetan medicine, the meaning of symbolism, dedication meditation… I didn’t just learn how to draw the Medicine Buddha, but have gained a rich spiritual practice. Your course was amazing, far exceeding my expectations!

I thought the videos were beautifully made, visually appealing and clear to follow and learn from.
I appreciated how different aspects of the course, art process, history and culture, understanding and use of the mantra, and the guided meditation all supported each other.
My expectation was to create a drawing and that expectation was met. The guided meditation was an unexpected treasure.

I was glad we had a whole month to access the material.
As a single person living by myself out in the woods under quarantine I consistently under estimated how much I would be interrupted. Even worse when outside interruptions stopped I would manage to interrupt myself!
Creating blocks of time to be in retreat mode was a challenge but very rewarding when I managed to do it.

Carmen is well experienced and supportive teacher who has ability to explain things with clarity and involvement. The course consists of few balanced parts, each part jows from the previous one and it’s composed in balanced way with beautiful simplicity and saving depth of traditional knowledge.

It makes challenging topic of painting Tibetan thankas easy to assimilate for modern Western mind.
CARMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH

I really liked the meditations and background stories. They put me so well in a concentrated and restful mood. It made it easier to remember all the tips and tricks also! My mind worked better! I enjoyed the pencil drawing, and precision, but had some troubles with the paint and size. Eveness of this paint (cobra, oil/watermixable) was not so easy.. I really liked being able to keep editing the final, with the same paint as well as with acryl and acrylic ink (liquitex). I also liked staying long with the basic colors green, red, yellow and blue, which resemble for me Maitri, Karuna, Mudita and Upekkha.

I noticed it is challenging to make all the lines symetrical and positioned so that I liked the expression of the smile. Also the painting was challenging, to get an even, or shaded layer. I felt good about learning to concentrate on smaller brushstrokes, and keep the rest in breathing as well. I notice when I stop breathing at particular difficult lines. It was a lot of fun touching up at the end, small lines, small corrections. polishing.

I enjoyed the drawing and especially the background talks!

I liked everything! Would love to join an actual class sometime in the future. Carmen’s teaching is clear concise and VERY helpful. Thankyou.

I enjoy the combination of all the different elements. I feel that it is a rather detailed and in depth course like I would receive if I were there in person.

I actually found the meditating the most useful to me. I suffer from anxiety and noticed that I was calmer after every session. I was also interested in the background of Tibetan medicine. So much so, that I even ordered a few books on the subject.

I just wanted to explore buddhism spirituality by learning to painting buddhism art. And in reality this is the second drawing I have done apart from my cat, so with this I just want to say that I am not a painter but the Buddha Carmen teach us how to draw came out very much alive and beautiful. And I am deeply thankful to Carmen for offering this class online.

I felt totally immersed during the process of drawing the Buddha’s face and enjoyed that. The experience also served to underscore my streak of perfectionism and the negative patterns that go along with it. I wasn’t happy with the eyes of my Buddha, but decided not to make any corrections before submitting my artwork. Letting go of perfection here felt right.
I had some drawing experience from many years ago, but had not cultivated the skill.
Loved the space that opened in my mind while drawing and the insight gleaned from the process. Thank you Carmen!

Everything was presented in a way that was clear and easy to understand. Thangka is something I had an interest in pursuing a few years ago but I ended up taking western art classes as that was much more accessible to me. I am very happy for this opportunity and I can see myself doing more.

I was a little stressed out about the time frame to complete it but I am glad for the deadline. If I didn’t have it, I would have procrastinated.

I’m looking forward to doing another Buddha face (this time with room for halo and robes) and colouring it properly, as this one seems to have been mostly an experiment. (I’m still not sure if I should do more in the background or just keep it simple…)

The First time I ever saw a Tibetan Thangka, I immediately wanted to learn more about it. My expectations were met with this course because it was much harder than I thought it would be, it was such a fun challenge to draw a balanced face using the grid system.
I did like the combination of the different elements in this course. I really liked them and wasn’t expecting the mediations or the Tibetan mantras.
The lectures were very informative without being too much information at once. Good bite-size chinks of information. Then I was happily lost in time as I drew.

It was very helpful that I could replay the videos to see and hear the instructions multiple times so I could follow along and not feel lost or left behind. I could really find my own pace.

I had a little peek at your free medicine buddha lecture.. So in my heart i knew this course would be awesome.. However you far exceeded that expectation..
i love the combination of story meditation, pictures, and bonus materials.. and yay i get to sing the mantra with you…

loved your approach beginning with meditation, your through explanations of words meanings, and story.. and wow even you can pray in tibetan language. the language is art in itself, the art,language, prayer, meditation, story, all In one.. so beautiful yet you are bringing this to a wider audience. Our world needs so much healing.. big gratitude for your heart…

beautifully done…hope to see more courses in the future, I’m already signed up for medicine buddha thangka course so excited…

The course exceeded my expectations. So much information on the history and detailed instruction that I really enjoyed, especially for drawing the hands and feet, I so appreciated it. The mantra recitation was really beautiful!

I absolutely love the Meditations and the sacredness with which you handle and deliver the course material, Carmen! I loved every aspect of the course and it was such a blessing to be able to go over material I needed to review again and again!

Also, the fact that you offered the course online was so helpful since with the pandemic no onsite courses were available! Still miss the interaction with you in person and with the other students but I am so grateful I could immerse myself in drawing sacred art! It was such a special time for me!

I loved this course. I loved the blend of lecture, instruction and meditation and Buddhist practices. I loved that the segments were short yet full of wonderful information. I loved seeing all the examples of the Buddha Faces in the Inspirational Gallery. It really was inspirational. What beautiful work you and your students have done. I loved learning the thangka techniques drawing my Buddha Face . Overall ..FANTASTIC! Thank you. Blessings

I expected the course to be similar to the White Tara course I took previously. I think Carmen did a good job with transitioning the course on-line. I enjoyed the lecture information along with the drawing instructions and mediations.

The breakdown of the drawing sessions were quite useful. I would say though the information in the lecture and private Zoom session were most valuable for the understanding drawing and the Medicine Buddha.

Thank you again Carmen for offering the course on-line. I enjoyed this class and would love to take another class with you.

Thank you very much dear Carmen, for guide us, for great moments while studying and drawing, for meditations and support inner learning.
Om Mani Padme Hung

Thanks for this course. The step by step approach allowed me to relax into the drawing practice. I enjoyed the additional learning through the lectures and now know more about the Buddha iconography as a result. Looking forward to the colouring course next to finish my piece. I haven’t drawn for years and this was a wonderful way to spend the day!

The course felt thorough. Carmen is adept at instruction and encouragement!
I loved learning about the mantra. I learned a lot in my one-on-one Zoom session.

I didn’t think I could draw a full Buddha. It was a great experience. I learned a lot about thangka methods, working with pencil, and colors. In addition, learned about the Medicine Buddha and his mantra, plants, symbolism.
Thank you Carmen!

Yes i loved the workshop. It is very well organized and i like the interaction with the teacher (Carmen). My experience in drawing is little but i enjoyed it. It’s been a long time since i wanted to find a THANGKA workshop so i’m grateful!!!

Really enjoyed this class.
I thought the online medium worked really well, as i travel alot its hard to get away at a certain time to do the onsite instructions, so i am glad i can continue learning from you Carmen.

I came with an open mind and did not have any expectation. I just want to learn some thing new and enjoy the process. I started with meditation before I drew the gridlines and Buddha face in pencil. It helped to keep my mood calm and balance. I never imagine I could draw a Buddha and it is close to symmetrical. I enjoy the process and it freed my mind and I am totally immersed in drawing. Every little step completed is a triumph for me and some times I would admire it before I progress the next step. The lectures give me insight and understanding in the art and buddhist tradition. The videos in showing how to draw were really good as gives me a good guide to follow.

I wish this tradition continues to flourish and more get to appreciate the tradition and this course.
It is so helpful especially in such time where technology is overwhelming and simple things can be taken for granted. Thank you for having this online course!

Palms joined in Heartfelt gratitude to Teacher Carmen for the guidance via the video teachings. Had really enjoyed the lessons and really took time to meditate and chant before each drawing. Had also repeatedly observed in meditative concentration to finetune again and again. Thus, like to apologise for submitting an uncompleted draft as really taking time to repeat watching the lessons and repeat fine tuning for each part. Since I have zero background, would appreciate if Teacher Carmen could share more in detail from her wealth of experiences on how to attain the symmetry of both left and right sides especially with the eyes, mouth and nose.

I loved doing this course. I knew it would be great again!
I knew more or less what to expect and the course was again very well structured.

I very much appreciated the mantra and the singing, it took me into another state of mind, so it was easier for me to focus.

Thank you Carmen – your Buddha Face Course was so informative, easy to follow, a joy to do! I loved that in the Colouring Techniques Course you made a connection with the Dutch Masters – this was an unexpected surprise! I will continue to look at paintings of Old Masters to get inspired as I practice these colouring/shading techniques. I finished my Buddha Face before I learned about blending so look forward to drawing a Buddha face in blended colours. Thanks again for creating this wonderful course.

Hello! I have some drawing experience however have not done any drawing for many years. This course was the perfect way for me to get motivated again. Very challenging at some points (misalignment of grids for one…yikes) however very satisfying in many ways!! So grateful for this opportunity.

I found the course inspiring. The background information very good.

This course was a Devine gift for me. I couldn’t believe that I am capable of drawing Buddha face by myself. Especially in Tibetan Thangka Tradition. I have zero of experience and didn’t draw since school. In the end I have a beautiful Buddha Face in front of me and I’m a little bit sad it’s over. But I am planning on doing another bigger one! I am staying at school to develop my skills on coloring techniques. I am so grateful for this opportunity to discover my new creative side.

Really enjoyed drawing the Buddha face. Great experience to take time to meditate and draw with attention.

I loved that the course was very well rounded with information about the medicine Buddha and all the extra things. It gave me a wonderful sense of being closer to the sacred aspect of drawing a Buddha.
I especially loved that I had a guided meditation to begin every drawing session…what a true blessing!
This course surpassed my expectations and I have recommended it to several friends.

“I had the extreme pleasure of taking three classes with Carmen Mensink this spring in NYC. I am the veteran of many fine art classes over the years, but this is the first time that I have felt compelled to write a testimonial about one. From the minute I met her, I knew Carmen was a woman from whom I could learn something truly special and different, which is not something I say lightly. I am not easily impressed. 🙂 After taking her amulet making class, I was sufficiently curious to see what else she had on offer, and after just one lecture, I could tell that my ability to learn from her was virtually unlimited.

Carmen’s classes are so much more than “just” an art class. Her knowledge, love and reverence for the highly-symbolic, traditional Tibetan devotional art called thangka is apparent in everything she does. Along with high-level, professional instruction in traditional drawing, painting and crafting methods, students learn about the history and cultural background of the deity they are depicting, including the mantras, prayers and attributes attributed to these religious figures. Rather than creating these images in a vacuum, our work is grounded in an understanding of their significance within Tibetan Buddhism. Carmen creates a spiritual space to work in that can only be described as magical. The meditative nature of art is a focus, as is the thought that creation be rooted in intention. The art produced in such an environment feels sacred.

The amount of effort, preparation, skill and planning involved in this approach to instruction is apparent, and it’s clear that teaching is an avocation for Carmen. It is done thoughtfully, with spirit, purpose and a sincerity that stands out.

No matter the level of skill and experience a student has, everyone is made to feel welcome and special, and is treated with complete respect. At the same time, Carmen is warm, friendly, unpretentious (despite having real bona fides as a recognized expert in her field) and intelligent, and has a sense of humor, so the class is relaxed and fun. Carmen has many students who have studied with her for years, and some have artwork that they only work on while she is visiting the city. It’s a testament to the value of Carmen’s presence and technical expertise that she has such a strong following.”

I thoroughly enjoyed the course and find the Buddhist teaching element and spirituality excellent. My aspirations were simply to be able to draw a presentable Medicine Buddha in the first instance and I’m happy I achieved that.

The guided drawing in stages with hints and tips of how to actually do it and in what order have been invaluable. Its possible to go out and buy a book but without this clear instruction, guidance and indeed lineage working from a book is very impersonal and open to interpretation.

I feel Carmen struck a great balance and this online course has great artistic and authenticity value.

I liked being able to work at my own pace, which is currently slow, and being able to return to the lessons and relisten. So the online experience was surprisingly a good one! Most of all I loved the connection that evolved by using the Medicine Buddha Mantra, the beautiful, exquisite guided meditation, and the drawing process. My mind and body rebelled at first, having to be so exact and work at it. I had to erase so much! I am going on to the coloring course so will continue working.

This session was structured very well to understand the iconography and how to draw the full Buddha body. I really enjoyed the transformation of grid to the full body figure as we go on the course step by step.

I reall liked the way Carmen explained drawing feet and hands in this course.
I also liked the special zoom session she took to help me understand the colouring techniques.

I loved taking this course so much! I particularly enjoyed the explanation of the history of Thang Ka paintings and buddhist philosophy. Carmen, thank you for your detailed and easy to understand explanations. This has been an incredible experience.

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 loved seeing other’s creations.

I totally loved the experience. It was so meditative and fulfilling. It was beyond my expectations. Thank you so much.

The online workshop was very enjoyable with a good mix of information on the thangka painting tradition, how to draw as well as making your own drawing.

Good course, with clear instructions. The online course turned out better than expected for me. I already had drawing experience though Carmen’s onsite courses.

This is my pencil version. Thank you SO MUCH Carmen! i dedicate these drawings to you too… I´ve been longing to do this and i’d like to keep on and maybe one day on site! It was a beautiful and deep experience!
Nice to meet you all!

Love every step, very clear the way make it to learn thangka!

Had fun drawing and coloring the Buddha Face!

I wanted to learn about the symbolism and iconography behind the Medicine Buddha and of course the proper proportions. I think it was very apt to have a course on him at this time considering the global pandemic. The class was perfect! It met all my expectations.

I really enjoyed how it was broken up into different modules. It was almost like taking a class with you in person! Your calm demeanor and positive energy even came through in the videos!

I enjoyed this course a lot! I have been wanting to learn Thangka since 1 year ago, and was hesitate to draw the face of Buddha following the pictures I found online. I’m so grateful that I waited for a year and this is exactly the course I am looking for.

It is very helpful to do the meditation before the class, because I got too excited about the class and my mind is so full that the meditation helped to calm me down and to set the right motivation.

I liked very much the path and combination of lectures, meditations and sessions. I have been interested in taking this kind of course for a long time and found it very well structured.

I enjoyed the class, learning to draw and then color the Buddha Face. Thank you, Carmen!

This course was amazing! I really thought it would be impossible for me to draw at all. Carmen’s videos are incredible, as it all the detail, information, and compassion she puts into teaching!!!

I’m so happy to attend this class and thanks for the teacher, Carmen, who is so kind and experience. I’m not good in drawing but realised what I dream. When I draw Buddha face, I think of all Buddha’s quality, visualise Buddha, then the grid then draw it. I read sometimes the mantra of Buddha Shakya Muni. When coloring, I can see better the independent origination, all the draw, color, one by one to make his appearance. Just relax the mind, think of Buddha’s quality, continue to color. The most dificult is how to show via the drawing Budha’s compassion and wisdom. Compassion I try to make his eyes, look upon beings with loving, kindness “I show you the path, it’s your choice to follow”. Then the wisdom, I try to make via the hallow, blue circle by making the following one zen tradition of painting circle, just draw circle, visualise of his wisdom raise. And Buddha has the 3 kayas, then the Nirmakaya, his appearance, Sambogakaya, his smile and the light, Dharmakaya in his wisdom appeare.
That is my way to complete the Buddha’s face.
Thank you for Carmen to guide me and explain clearly.
I dedicate for Carmen’s work to help more people can draw their dream, for all sentient beings be happy and free of suffering.

I had no drawing experience, so I started the class with an open mind. I must say the 10-day schedule was quite challenging due to my work schedule and I could not spend much time during the first weekend due to prior commitments. So, I spent the second weekend working around the clock to finish the course. What I like about the course is: 1) the instruction of how to draw a Buddha head is lay out as a step by step process. The instructions are clearly explained with the support of visual representations; 2) Carmen is supportive and answering questions and comments in a timely manner. I struggled for drawing eyes even after watching videos multiple times and practicing them multiple times. I enjoyed the different elements of the course (e.g., the history, the meditation, the actual drawing, the dedication prayer, etc.). This course has been transformative for me. I had this belief that I could not draw prior taking this course. It feels very freeing to be able to draw a Buddha head. And I absolutely love the Buddha I drew.

It’s a chance to be able to participate in online courses with carmen! I can only move very little because my job and my family are involved. My family knows the importance for me to continue to walk alongside Carmen for realize my dream of painting a thangka one day. The carmen lessons are of an excellent level.

I hope to be able to continue. I will finish the color to my buddha of medicine and then I hope to be able to make tara!!

Also the guided meditations and historical explanations were so valuable. For me everything is designed to bring us gently towards the realization of our work and in understanding what each gesture means. It is ideal.

I have been through some sort of crisis but this course was extremely useful! It helped me to ground myself.. made me feel calm and centred which was very needed indeed! The course structure was very clear and was beyond my expectations! I got so much out of it. I loved the combination of all the elements you put in. I really appreciate that you decided to have online course! I live in Australia so far away to attend these classes in person. I didn’t have any drawing experience. I only draw Buddha face once but would like to draw more Buddha face before even starting on colouring (bought the Colouring bundle). Many thanks again for all the effort you put in to create this amazing course for us!

My expectations were more than met, Carmen! The information you provided was inspirational and your teaching steps were well-paced. I fell into the process like a playful otter into a river. Thank you!

I can see what I need to work on – symmetry for you and also the ears; I also need to pay attention to the overall placement of the face on the paper. The flame got crunched by the halo!

However, I am really pleased. I’ve never done this type of drawing before. It was wonderful to combine my practice with this amazing art form. Again, I can’t thank you enough.

With folded hands!

The course had a good flow and a good balance of instruction and practice

This is my Medicine Buddha so far – I love the course!!!

Loved the course. Was an enriching and a serene experience for me. Thanks for this beautiful journey.

Dear Carmen, thank you very much for this wonderful course. For me it really was set up in such a comprehensive way, this is so much more than a drawing course rather a meditation, an experience and a journey to meet my inside buddha 🙂 Even though I have drawing experience I was a bit concerned about the precise way to draw (which is not my strength) but I really enjoyed it and found great joy in the patience. An indeed fulfilling experience or shall I rather say journey.
PS: I cannot wait to shade my Buddha in black and white

Carmen, thank you so much for your inspiring lectures! I’ve learned a lot! I will continue with the colour-workshop, and will use that knowledge to colour my Buddha-face. It was not easy to draw the Buddha face, but it made me realise more the differences in drawing both sides in balance. I will continue my training! Thank you very much! best wishes, Heidi

This course was perfect in every way for me. The teaching of the dharma, the mantra chanting, the meditation, the history and the clear, concise instruction all combined to create this rich and meaningful experience. Thank you.

I liked being able to work at my own pace, which is currently slow, and being able to return to the lessons and relisten. So the online experience was surprisingly a good one! Most of all I loved the connection that evolved by using the Medicine Buddha Mantra, the beautiful, exquisite guided meditation, and the drawing process. My mind and body rebelled at first, having to be so exact and work at it. I had to erase so much! I am going on to the coloring course so will continue working.

This is my pencil version. Thank you SO MUCH Carmen! i dedicate these drawings to you too… I´ve been longing to do this and i’d like to keep on and maybe one day on site! It was a beautiful and deep experience!
Nice to meet you all!

I came with an open mind and did not have any expectation. I just want to learn some thing new and enjoy the process. I started with meditation before I drew the gridlines and Buddha face in pencil. It helped to keep my mood calm and balance. I never imagine I could draw a Buddha and it is close to symmetrical. I enjoy the process and it freed my mind and I am totally immersed in drawing. Every little step completed is a triumph for me and some times I would admire it before I progress the next step. The lectures give me insight and understanding in the art and buddhist tradition. The videos in showing how to draw were really good as gives me a good guide to follow.

I wish this tradition continues to flourish and more get to appreciate the tradition and this course.
It is so helpful especially in such time where technology is overwhelming and simple things can be taken for granted. Thank you for having this online course!

I really enjoyed the course and the focus on Buddhist traditions particularly as they relate to thangkas, methods and lineage. Its not just a “drawing”course but an education on the buddhist path to enlightenment through traditional thangka art.

The First time I ever saw a Tibetan Thangka, I immediately wanted to learn more about it. My expectations were met with this course because it was much harder than I thought it would be, it was such a fun challenge to draw a balanced face using the grid system.
I did like the combination of the different elements in this course. I really liked them and wasn’t expecting the mediations or the Tibetan mantras.
The lectures were very informative without being too much information at once. Good bite-size chinks of information. Then I was happily lost in time as I drew.

It was very helpful that I could replay the videos to see and hear the instructions multiple times so I could follow along and not feel lost or left behind. I could really find my own pace.

Yes i loved the workshop. It is very well organized and i like the interaction with the teacher (Carmen). My experience in drawing is little but i enjoyed it. It’s been a long time since i wanted to find a THANGKA workshop so i’m grateful!!!

I loved doing this course. I knew it would be great again!
I knew more or less what to expect and the course was again very well structured.

I very much appreciated the mantra and the singing, it took me into another state of mind, so it was easier for me to focus.

This is my Medicine Buddha so far – I love the course!!!

I enjoyed the drawing and especially the background talks!

I totally loved the experience. It was so meditative and fulfilling. It was beyond my expectations. Thank you so much.

I enjoyed the class, learning to draw and then color the Buddha Face. Thank you, Carmen!

Hello! I have some drawing experience however have not done any drawing for many years. This course was the perfect way for me to get motivated again. Very challenging at some points (misalignment of grids for one…yikes) however very satisfying in many ways!! So grateful for this opportunity.

Love every step, very clear the way make it to learn thangka!

Palms joined in Heartfelt gratitude to Teacher Carmen for the guidance via the video teachings. Had really enjoyed the lessons and really took time to meditate and chant before each drawing. Had also repeatedly observed in meditative concentration to finetune again and again. Thus, like to apologise for submitting an uncompleted draft as really taking time to repeat watching the lessons and repeat fine tuning for each part. Since I have zero background, would appreciate if Teacher Carmen could share more in detail from her wealth of experiences on how to attain the symmetry of both left and right sides especially with the eyes, mouth and nose.

This course was a Devine gift for me. I couldn’t believe that I am capable of drawing Buddha face by myself. Especially in Tibetan Thangka Tradition. I have zero of experience and didn’t draw since school. In the end I have a beautiful Buddha Face in front of me and I’m a little bit sad it’s over. But I am planning on doing another bigger one! I am staying at school to develop my skills on coloring techniques. I am so grateful for this opportunity to discover my new creative side.

Carmen is well experienced and supportive teacher who has ability to explain things with clarity and involvement. The course consists of few balanced parts, each part jows from the previous one and it’s composed in balanced way with beautiful simplicity and saving depth of traditional knowledge.

It makes challenging topic of painting Tibetan thankas easy to assimilate for modern Western mind.
CARMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH

I found the course inspiring. The background information very good.

My expectations were more than met, Carmen! The information you provided was inspirational and your teaching steps were well-paced. I fell into the process like a playful otter into a river. Thank you!

I can see what I need to work on – symmetry for you and also the ears; I also need to pay attention to the overall placement of the face on the paper. The flame got crunched by the halo!

However, I am really pleased. I’ve never done this type of drawing before. It was wonderful to combine my practice with this amazing art form. Again, I can’t thank you enough.

With folded hands!

“I had the extreme pleasure of taking three classes with Carmen Mensink this spring in NYC. I am the veteran of many fine art classes over the years, but this is the first time that I have felt compelled to write a testimonial about one. From the minute I met her, I knew Carmen was a woman from whom I could learn something truly special and different, which is not something I say lightly. I am not easily impressed. 🙂 After taking her amulet making class, I was sufficiently curious to see what else she had on offer, and after just one lecture, I could tell that my ability to learn from her was virtually unlimited.

Carmen’s classes are so much more than “just” an art class. Her knowledge, love and reverence for the highly-symbolic, traditional Tibetan devotional art called thangka is apparent in everything she does. Along with high-level, professional instruction in traditional drawing, painting and crafting methods, students learn about the history and cultural background of the deity they are depicting, including the mantras, prayers and attributes attributed to these religious figures. Rather than creating these images in a vacuum, our work is grounded in an understanding of their significance within Tibetan Buddhism. Carmen creates a spiritual space to work in that can only be described as magical. The meditative nature of art is a focus, as is the thought that creation be rooted in intention. The art produced in such an environment feels sacred.

The amount of effort, preparation, skill and planning involved in this approach to instruction is apparent, and it’s clear that teaching is an avocation for Carmen. It is done thoughtfully, with spirit, purpose and a sincerity that stands out.

No matter the level of skill and experience a student has, everyone is made to feel welcome and special, and is treated with complete respect. At the same time, Carmen is warm, friendly, unpretentious (despite having real bona fides as a recognized expert in her field) and intelligent, and has a sense of humor, so the class is relaxed and fun. Carmen has many students who have studied with her for years, and some have artwork that they only work on while she is visiting the city. It’s a testament to the value of Carmen’s presence and technical expertise that she has such a strong following.”

It’s a chance to be able to participate in online courses with carmen! I can only move very little because my job and my family are involved. My family knows the importance for me to continue to walk alongside Carmen for realize my dream of painting a thangka one day. The carmen lessons are of an excellent level.

I hope to be able to continue. I will finish the color to my buddha of medicine and then I hope to be able to make tara!!

Also the guided meditations and historical explanations were so valuable. For me everything is designed to bring us gently towards the realization of our work and in understanding what each gesture means. It is ideal.

This course was perfect in every way for me. The teaching of the dharma, the mantra chanting, the meditation, the history and the clear, concise instruction all combined to create this rich and meaningful experience. Thank you.

It was great, and I learned a lot, Thank you Carmen! The most difficult part was seeing/ understanding how the Buddha’s eyes are not as open as depicted, so more practice Needed! Very clear instructions and the supporting info very helpful.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. I liked how the art lessons were broken down so that I didn’t feel overwhelmed. I also enjoyed learning about the history of the Thangka, and participating in the meditations. I feel that it was an all around great course, and I’m glad that I got to participate.
I feel that the drawing video was the most useful to me. I liked how the individual lines were shown step by step on the video.

This was (is) a beautiful, meditative experience which is helping me get through this difficult time. I look forward to taking another class in the future.

I liked the course and the meditation before starting the course.

I had a little peek at your free medicine buddha lecture.. So in my heart i knew this course would be awesome.. However you far exceeded that expectation..
i love the combination of story meditation, pictures, and bonus materials.. and yay i get to sing the mantra with you…

loved your approach beginning with meditation, your through explanations of words meanings, and story.. and wow even you can pray in tibetan language. the language is art in itself, the art,language, prayer, meditation, story, all In one.. so beautiful yet you are bringing this to a wider audience. Our world needs so much healing.. big gratitude for your heart…

beautifully done…hope to see more courses in the future, I’m already signed up for medicine buddha thangka course so excited…

Thank you very much dear Carmen, for guide us, for great moments while studying and drawing, for meditations and support inner learning.
Om Mani Padme Hung

I already followed an onsite course of drawing the Buddha Face in Den Haag.
But now I had more time and being able to look back several times to the Iconography and the Colours was one of the aspects I really appreciated.

This course was amazing! I really thought it would be impossible for me to draw at all. Carmen’s videos are incredible, as it all the detail, information, and compassion she puts into teaching!!!

I had no drawing experience, so I started the class with an open mind. I must say the 10-day schedule was quite challenging due to my work schedule and I could not spend much time during the first weekend due to prior commitments. So, I spent the second weekend working around the clock to finish the course. What I like about the course is: 1) the instruction of how to draw a Buddha head is lay out as a step by step process. The instructions are clearly explained with the support of visual representations; 2) Carmen is supportive and answering questions and comments in a timely manner. I struggled for drawing eyes even after watching videos multiple times and practicing them multiple times. I enjoyed the different elements of the course (e.g., the history, the meditation, the actual drawing, the dedication prayer, etc.). This course has been transformative for me. I had this belief that I could not draw prior taking this course. It feels very freeing to be able to draw a Buddha head. And I absolutely love the Buddha I drew.

Thanks for this course. The step by step approach allowed me to relax into the drawing practice. I enjoyed the additional learning through the lectures and now know more about the Buddha iconography as a result. Looking forward to the colouring course next to finish my piece. I haven’t drawn for years and this was a wonderful way to spend the day!

Really enjoyed drawing the Buddha face. Great experience to take time to meditate and draw with attention.

My expectations going into the course where to get more in touch with the aspects of buddhism regarding the drawing of the Buddha.
I was surprised on how well structured and detailed explanations were available for each step.
The history before the drawing classes i believe add so much value because it brings the attention of the importance and significance of this tradition. On top of that, meditation was key to focus and be able to concentrate on the class.

Goede cursus, met duidelijke instructies. De cursus online pakte beter uit voor mij dan verwacht. Ik had al ervaring met tekenen via Carmen’s cursussen op locatie.

I loved taking this course so much! I particularly enjoyed the explanation of the history of Thang Ka paintings and buddhist philosophy. Carmen, thank you for your detailed and easy to understand explanations. This has been an incredible experience.

I really liked the meditations and background stories. They put me so well in a concentrated and restful mood. It made it easier to remember all the tips and tricks also! My mind worked better! I enjoyed the pencil drawing, and precision, but had some troubles with the paint and size. Eveness of this paint (cobra, oil/watermixable) was not so easy.. I really liked being able to keep editing the final, with the same paint as well as with acryl and acrylic ink (liquitex). I also liked staying long with the basic colors green, red, yellow and blue, which resemble for me Maitri, Karuna, Mudita and Upekkha.

I noticed it is challenging to make all the lines symetrical and positioned so that I liked the expression of the smile. Also the painting was challenging, to get an even, or shaded layer. I felt good about learning to concentrate on smaller brushstrokes, and keep the rest in breathing as well. I notice when I stop breathing at particular difficult lines. It was a lot of fun touching up at the end, small lines, small corrections. polishing.

Had fun drawing and coloring the Buddha Face!

Everything was presented in a way that was clear and easy to understand. Thangka is something I had an interest in pursuing a few years ago but I ended up taking western art classes as that was much more accessible to me. I am very happy for this opportunity and I can see myself doing more.

I was a little stressed out about the time frame to complete it but I am glad for the deadline. If I didn’t have it, I would have procrastinated.

I’m looking forward to doing another Buddha face (this time with room for halo and robes) and colouring it properly, as this one seems to have been mostly an experiment. (I’m still not sure if I should do more in the background or just keep it simple…)

Hi Carmen.
I’m still working on finishing of my Buddha face but wanted to send to you ,so you can see where I am at.
I haven’t worked with color pencil in a while. 🙂 I’ve been having fun tho!
Here is what I got so far:

I am Doing the background in acrylics.

I want to bring up that it has been a very meditative work and a lots of thought keep coming in to my mind. I have been notice how it interfere on my painting. Even when I have thought that are not so pleasant, I notice I get more sloppy. And I have practice coming back to my relaxed enjoyable state of mind.
Also looking at Buddha face have been feeling like Buddha is looking at me, and I apologize at times for thinking or judging people or Situations. Like asking for forgiveness. And then I remember that You said that is a reflection of ourselves, so I change it to apologize to myself and forgive myself for those human feelings.

It’s been a very great process.

To connect to my art , creativity, myself and the Divinity of all of it.

Also my cat have been jumping on my Thangka drawing and I get a little nervous so it’s also another exercise, i remember that you teach about the animals. So I replace my nervous acting with put him on my lap and start to pet him.

Practice, practice, practice 🙂
I really appreciate learning with you.

And I am very grateful!

Thank you so much for your patience.

Much love
Aloha🌺
Camila

Dear Carmen, thank you very much for this wonderful course. For me it really was set up in such a comprehensive way, this is so much more than a drawing course rather a meditation, an experience and a journey to meet my inside buddha 🙂 Even though I have drawing experience I was a bit concerned about the precise way to draw (which is not my strength) but I really enjoyed it and found great joy in the patience. An indeed fulfilling experience or shall I rather say journey.
PS: I cannot wait to shade my Buddha in black and white

Thank you Carmen – your Buddha Face Course was so informative, easy to follow, a joy to do! I loved that in the Colouring Techniques Course you made a connection with the Dutch Masters – this was an unexpected surprise! I will continue to look at paintings of Old Masters to get inspired as I practice these colouring/shading techniques. I finished my Buddha Face before I learned about blending so look forward to drawing a Buddha face in blended colours. Thanks again for creating this wonderful course.

The course felt thorough. Carmen is adept at instruction and encouragement!
I loved learning about the mantra. I learned a lot in my one-on-one Zoom session.

I didn’t think I could draw a full Buddha. It was a great experience. I learned a lot about thangka methods, working with pencil, and colors. In addition, learned about the Medicine Buddha and his mantra, plants, symbolism.
Thank you Carmen!

I loved the depth of this course: intention meditation, mantras, learning about the history of Thangka and Tibetan medicine, the meaning of symbolism, dedication meditation… I didn’t just learn how to draw the Medicine Buddha, but have gained a rich spiritual practice. Your course was amazing, far exceeding my expectations!

The background information and the step by step drawing guide were very helpfull. It was an opportunity to do this e-course and it was very joyfull. I loved the information about the Buddhism and the step for step explanation for drawing the Buddhaface. Also very good was if you asked a question, the answer became very quick. I am very satisfied about this course.

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 loved seeing other’s creations.

I thoroughly enjoyed the course and find the Buddhist teaching element and spirituality excellent. My aspirations were simply to be able to draw a presentable Medicine Buddha in the first instance and I’m happy I achieved that.

The guided drawing in stages with hints and tips of how to actually do it and in what order have been invaluable. Its possible to go out and buy a book but without this clear instruction, guidance and indeed lineage working from a book is very impersonal and open to interpretation.

I feel Carmen struck a great balance and this online course has great artistic and authenticity value.

I enjoyed this course a lot! I have been wanting to learn Thangka since 1 year ago, and was hesitate to draw the face of Buddha following the pictures I found online. I’m so grateful that I waited for a year and this is exactly the course I am looking for.

It is very helpful to do the meditation before the class, because I got too excited about the class and my mind is so full that the meditation helped to calm me down and to set the right motivation.

I wanted to learn about the symbolism and iconography behind the Medicine Buddha and of course the proper proportions. I think it was very apt to have a course on him at this time considering the global pandemic. The class was perfect! It met all my expectations.

I really enjoyed how it was broken up into different modules. It was almost like taking a class with you in person! Your calm demeanor and positive energy even came through in the videos!

I thought the videos were beautifully made, visually appealing and clear to follow and learn from.
I appreciated how different aspects of the course, art process, history and culture, understanding and use of the mantra, and the guided meditation all supported each other.
My expectation was to create a drawing and that expectation was met. The guided meditation was an unexpected treasure.

I was glad we had a whole month to access the material.
As a single person living by myself out in the woods under quarantine I consistently under estimated how much I would be interrupted. Even worse when outside interruptions stopped I would manage to interrupt myself!
Creating blocks of time to be in retreat mode was a challenge but very rewarding when I managed to do it.

I liked everything! Would love to join an actual class sometime in the future. Carmen’s teaching is clear concise and VERY helpful. Thankyou.

The course exceeded my expectations. So much information on the history and detailed instruction that I really enjoyed, especially for drawing the hands and feet, I so appreciated it. The mantra recitation was really beautiful!

I absolutely love the Meditations and the sacredness with which you handle and deliver the course material, Carmen! I loved every aspect of the course and it was such a blessing to be able to go over material I needed to review again and again!

Also, the fact that you offered the course online was so helpful since with the pandemic no onsite courses were available! Still miss the interaction with you in person and with the other students but I am so grateful I could immerse myself in drawing sacred art! It was such a special time for me!

My expectations for the course were exceeded! I hoped to experience the meditative aspect of drawing sacred art, which I certainly did. I didn’t expect to learn so much about the history and use of thangkas, which I loved, and definitely didn’t expect to be so happy with my drawing, which I am!

I liked very much the path and combination of lectures, meditations and sessions. I have been interested in taking this kind of course for a long time and found it very well structured.

I’m so happy to attend this class and thanks for the teacher, Carmen, who is so kind and experience. I’m not good in drawing but realised what I dream. When I draw Buddha face, I think of all Buddha’s quality, visualise Buddha, then the grid then draw it. I read sometimes the mantra of Buddha Shakya Muni. When coloring, I can see better the independent origination, all the draw, color, one by one to make his appearance. Just relax the mind, think of Buddha’s quality, continue to color. The most dificult is how to show via the drawing Budha’s compassion and wisdom. Compassion I try to make his eyes, look upon beings with loving, kindness “I show you the path, it’s your choice to follow”. Then the wisdom, I try to make via the hallow, blue circle by making the following one zen tradition of painting circle, just draw circle, visualise of his wisdom raise. And Buddha has the 3 kayas, then the Nirmakaya, his appearance, Sambogakaya, his smile and the light, Dharmakaya in his wisdom appeare.
That is my way to complete the Buddha’s face.
Thank you for Carmen to guide me and explain clearly.
I dedicate for Carmen’s work to help more people can draw their dream, for all sentient beings be happy and free of suffering.

The course had a good flow and a good balance of instruction and practice

Carmen, thank you so much for your inspiring lectures! I’ve learned a lot! I will continue with the colour-workshop, and will use that knowledge to colour my Buddha-face. It was not easy to draw the Buddha face, but it made me realise more the differences in drawing both sides in balance. I will continue my training! Thank you very much! best wishes, Heidi

I just wanted to explore buddhism spirituality by learning to painting buddhism art. And in reality this is the second drawing I have done apart from my cat, so with this I just want to say that I am not a painter but the Buddha Carmen teach us how to draw came out very much alive and beautiful. And I am deeply thankful to Carmen for offering this class online.

Loved the course. Was an enriching and a serene experience for me. Thanks for this beautiful journey.

I loved that the course was very well rounded with information about the medicine Buddha and all the extra things. It gave me a wonderful sense of being closer to the sacred aspect of drawing a Buddha.
I especially loved that I had a guided meditation to begin every drawing session…what a true blessing!
This course surpassed my expectations and I have recommended it to several friends.

Good course, with clear instructions. The online course turned out better than expected for me. I already had drawing experience though Carmen’s onsite courses.

I have been through some sort of crisis but this course was extremely useful! It helped me to ground myself.. made me feel calm and centred which was very needed indeed! The course structure was very clear and was beyond my expectations! I got so much out of it. I loved the combination of all the elements you put in. I really appreciate that you decided to have online course! I live in Australia so far away to attend these classes in person. I didn’t have any drawing experience. I only draw Buddha face once but would like to draw more Buddha face before even starting on colouring (bought the Colouring bundle). Many thanks again for all the effort you put in to create this amazing course for us!

This session was structured very well to understand the iconography and how to draw the full Buddha body. I really enjoyed the transformation of grid to the full body figure as we go on the course step by step.

I reall liked the way Carmen explained drawing feet and hands in this course.
I also liked the special zoom session she took to help me understand the colouring techniques.

I enjoy the combination of all the different elements. I feel that it is a rather detailed and in depth course like I would receive if I were there in person.

I actually found the meditating the most useful to me. I suffer from anxiety and noticed that I was calmer after every session. I was also interested in the background of Tibetan medicine. So much so, that I even ordered a few books on the subject.

Thanks for the teachings, I never thought I could do a Buddha face!
An amazing journey… Thank you Carmen!

Really enjoyed this class.
I thought the online medium worked really well, as i travel alot its hard to get away at a certain time to do the onsite instructions, so i am glad i can continue learning from you Carmen.

I appreciated Carmens knowledge of tibetan history and iconology as an essential part of the workshop, besides the technical aspects, which were also very clear.
Oh, and I do like her shop!

I expected the course to be similar to the White Tara course I took previously. I think Carmen did a good job with transitioning the course on-line. I enjoyed the lecture information along with the drawing instructions and mediations.

The breakdown of the drawing sessions were quite useful. I would say though the information in the lecture and private Zoom session were most valuable for the understanding drawing and the Medicine Buddha.

Thank you again Carmen for offering the course on-line. I enjoyed this class and would love to take another class with you.

The online workshop was very enjoyable with a good mix of information on the thangka painting tradition, how to draw as well as making your own drawing.

I loved this course. I loved the blend of lecture, instruction and meditation and Buddhist practices. I loved that the segments were short yet full of wonderful information. I loved seeing all the examples of the Buddha Faces in the Inspirational Gallery. It really was inspirational. What beautiful work you and your students have done. I loved learning the thangka techniques drawing my Buddha Face . Overall ..FANTASTIC! Thank you. Blessings

I felt totally immersed during the process of drawing the Buddha’s face and enjoyed that. The experience also served to underscore my streak of perfectionism and the negative patterns that go along with it. I wasn’t happy with the eyes of my Buddha, but decided not to make any corrections before submitting my artwork. Letting go of perfection here felt right.
I had some drawing experience from many years ago, but had not cultivated the skill.
Loved the space that opened in my mind while drawing and the insight gleaned from the process. Thank you Carmen!