Home > Classes > Upcoming thangka courses > 6 day Thangka Art Retreat at the beautiful Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY, from Sep 24-29, 2023
Thangka Art Retreat
Learn to create a Buddha according to the Tradition of Thangka
at the beautiful Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY
Carmen Mensink is an internationally renowned painter of thangkas, the traditional Tibetan scroll paintings of Buddhas and mandalas. For this special retreat she will travel oversees to teach you how to draw or paint a Buddha, by using the ancient grid-proportions of her lineage as a helpful tool.
Carmen’s personal approach and guidance makes this retreat suitable for students on all levels.
Beginner thangka students -even those with no drawing experience whatsoever!- will first learn to draw the Face of the Buddha before moving onto a complete Buddha, choosing from The Buddha (Buddha Shakyamuni) or Medicine Buddha (the Buddha of Healing). More advanced students (who have already taken classes with Carmen onsite or online) may focus on Green Tara (The Mother of all Buddhas) or another Buddha as the subject for this course.
During this retreat, all steps of a thangka drawing and painting are covered.
After you have drawn your Buddha (with an optional landscape) you will learn to use different colored pencil techniques to work out your drawing. You are also very welcome to work with other materials that you like, e.g. watercolor, ink, past
Your drawing can also be worked out with the special thangka painting techniques, but this is more advisable for advanced students as it takes a very long time to create a traditional thangka.
Check out the Pictures of the 2022 Omega Tibetan Art Retreat
This is ‘not just your regular art class’ as Carmen’s students always say. In addition to the art sessions there will be guided meditations as well as lectures/presentations on tradition of thangka painting, symbolism of Buddhas, meaning of mantras, and much more.
Because of her inspired approach, Carmen knows how to bring out the best in you,and you will return home with your own beautiful Buddha drawing or painting.
If you want to create meaningful art in a meditative setting, and a joyful experience that lasts much longer than the course itself, this is the retreat for you.
For more info and registration go the the Omega Institute website:
“Clear & simple with the indepth essence of a profound meditation!”
Student at the Retreat Week at Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY
“We had a really fun five days, Carmen was really a dedicated teacher, it was amazing how we all didn’t really
know what we were doing at first, but got guided through the process and we all ended up making nice stuff IMO. …We did a cool meditation every morning that was tied into the specific buddha that we were all drawing/painting. Carmen’s great – sincere, supportive, humble & enthusiastic.”
Vlad Lewis, Massachusetts, USA
Student at the Retreat Week at Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY
“Carmen is a spiritual gift, and she is brilliant, noble, kind & clear. Her teaching is done with clarity and kindness.”
Irena Delahuntey, Connecticut, USA
Student at the Retreat Week at Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY
“Having been stuck in my own art practice for a number of years, Carmen’s class helped me not only break through that stuckness, but also integrate new, old & unfolding learnings. It is a beautiful amalgamation of mindfulness, art, meditation.
We learned, applied & had opportunity to try new techniques & ask plenty of questions. I look forward to taking class again with Carmen next year!”
Lisa Evert, Ohio, USA
Participant at the Retreat Week at Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY
Learn from renowned thangka painter Carmen Mensink from The Netherlands