Home > Courses > Four-day Thangka Art Course, Venice, Italy, 6-9 Nov, 2025
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This course is offered in clear English but if you need translation in Italian (or another language) we are happy to provide translations for you. Please let us know in the registration form.
Thangka Art Course in Venice, Italy
6-9 November, 2025
Creating art in the most beautiful city in the world
During this four-day thangka drawing workshop in Venice with renowned thangka painter Carmen Mensink from The Netherlands, you will learn to draw (and maybe color or paint) this beautiful Buddha according to the tradition of thangka (Tibetan scroll paintings).
This special art course is held in a special place: a traditional Venetian Palazzo on one of the canals (with great views!) in the heart of Venice.
Creating art in the city where you are surrounded by art is such a great combination. In addition to the thangka course you can explore the city on foot, take the vaporetto (water bus) to visit the other islands such as Murano (famous for its glasswork), Burano (famous for its lace and the colorful houses), or one of the many great museums.
The subject for this course will be announced soon.
NOTE: Save the Date for now!
If you subscribe to the Newsletter you will be informed when registration opens.
For whom?
This workshop is suitable from beginner to advanced thangka students.
If you are new, you will get even more out of this weekend when beforehand you’ve learned how to draw the Face of the Buddha, this can be done either online at the School for Tibetan Buddhist Art: Buddha Face / Online Workshop
Carmen Mensink will guide students through the cultural/historical context of thangkas and symbolism within Tibetan-Buddhist art through the combination of art, slide shows and meditations. She will offer individual guidance where needed.
On Thursday evening after the lecture there will be drinks and snacks and time to get to know each other, and on Saturday evening a dinner party (optional) will be organized.
Drawing a Buddha is a meditation in itself and creates inner peace and joy. When you’re a Buddhist practitioner, the drawing of the Buddha can improve your visualization meditation on a great scale. Buddhist lamas say: “When you draw a Buddha, you are drawing your own mind.”
Note: This course will be given in clear English. If you need translation in Italian (or any other language) please let us know in the registration form and we’ll provide the texts for you.
For pics of last year’s thangka course in Venice click here
More Info
For more information, cost and venue please check out the following:
Thu Nov 6 through Sun Nov 9, 2025:
Thursday evening: 19.30 – 21.30 Introduction + Lecture about the subject, ending with drinks and snacks
Friday: 10.00 – 18.00 (incl. 1hr lunch break)
Saturday: 10.00 – 18.00 (incl. 1hr lunch break) with (optional) our fabulous annual Dinner Party
Sunday: 10.00 – 17.00 (incl. 1hr lunch break)
Price: €258 including drinks and snacks after the lecture on Thu evening, and coffee/tea/biscuits/fruit during the rest of the course.
To secure your space we ask you to make a downpayment of €108 when you register (check your email -it may have arrived in your spam-folder- for the payment link after submitting the registration form).
The remaining amount can be paid (in cash) on the spot to Giovanna, who co-organizes this course.
Optional: Lunches
A large vegetarian lunch can be booked for €20 per day including wine, freshly made by the owner of the palazzo. Of course you can also go out for lunch or bring some food with you.
Optional: Dinner Party
Traditionally on Saturday evening we will have a wonderful dinner party, this can be booked on the spot for €20 including dinner and all drinks.
Thick drawing paper size 50x65cm- ruler 40-50cm
- pencil HB (regular or mechanical pencil)
- eraser
- compass
- (optional: colored pencils)In ‘Carmen’s Little Shop’ different drawing materials can be bought as well (except for paper). Please bring some cash.
Palazzo Minotto / Fondamenta Minotto n. 143 (Sestiere di Santa Croce)
Ring the bell ‘Pianizzola’ (and walk to the 2nd floor)
Venice,
Italy
This is close to Piazzale Roma where the main train station of Venice S. Lucia is and all the busses arrive.
You can also check out the following hotels that are all near to where the thangka course takes place, and that we can recommend as the prices are not too high (for Venice standards). The people that run the B&B’s are friends of Giovanna Carraro (who organizes this course) and you may get a discount when you tell that you come for the thangka course that she organizes.
Salizada S.Pantalon n.84, Venezia
Phone: +39 041 5256057
Email: albergocasaperon(at)gmail.com
Albergo Marin
Phone: +39 041 718022 / email: info(at)albergomarin.it
Website: www.albergomarin.it
Hotel S.Geremia Alloggi Gerotto Calderan
Campo S.Geremia n.290, Venezia (close to train station and bus station)
Email: info(at)283.it
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Registration Form
To register for this course 1) Fill in the registration form and 2) Check your email and pay the deposit of €108. (NOTE: Check your spam folder if you don’t see the email in your inbox)
NOTE: Save the Date for now!
If you subscribe to the Newsletter you will be informed when registration opens.