Home > Courses > Thangka Art Retreat at the Omega Institute, Jun 29-Jul 4, 2025, Rhinebeck, NY
Join Arts Week at Omega Institute!
Tibetan Art Retreat
Jun 29-Jul 4, 2025
Drawing and painting Buddhas of Compassion
🕉️ Tibetan Art Retreat with Carmen Mensink
Discover the sacred beauty of Tibetan Buddhist art in a peaceful retreat setting.
Join Carmen Mensink, renowned thangka painter from the Netherlands, for an inspiring journey into the art and symbolism of thangka — traditional Tibetan Buddhist scroll paintings.
🌸 Choose Your Retreat Experience
Weekend Retreat: June 19 – 21, 2026
Creating Tibetan Buddhist Art — An Introduction
A perfect introduction for those curious about Tibetan art and its meditative practice.
You’ll learn to draw the Buddha Face and the Lotus Flower, two profound symbols of awakening and purity.
🕰️ Friday Evening:
Begin with a beautiful Lecture on the Art of Thangka — discover the origins, meaning, and spiritual depth of this ancient art form.
🪷 Saturday:
Experience the Art of Thangka hands-on by learning the sacred grids and proportions used to draw the Buddha Face, passed down through centuries.
🌼 Sunday:
Create the Lotus Flower, symbolizing purity and enlightenment — a meditative drawing practice that brings calm and clarity.
At the end of the weekend, you’ll take home two meaningful artworks and a deep connection to the tradition.
Suitable for all levels, including complete beginners.
💡 Note: Students joining the full-week retreat will continue with the Mandala of the Five Wisdom Buddhas after the weekend.
Five-Day Retreat: June 21 – 26, 2026
Creating the Mandala of the Five Wisdom Buddhas
Dive deeper into Tibetan Buddhist art by learning to draw or paint the Mandala of the Five Wisdom Buddhas —
Akshobhya, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha, Amoghasiddhi, and Vairocana — the five manifestations of enlightened mind.
Each Buddha embodies a color, element, direction, and wisdom, transforming a specific negative emotion into a positive energy.
Through drawing, short meditations, and reflection, you’ll invite these transformative qualities into your own life.
Each day focuses on one of the Five Buddhas and their corresponding wisdom.
You can choose to depict the Buddhas themselves or their symbolic representations — guided step-by-step by Carmen.
🎨 No previous drawing experience required — beginners and experienced artists alike are welcome.
Full-Week Retreat: June 19 – 26, 2026
The Complete Thangka Experience
Immerse yourself in the full week to experience both the introductory and advanced teachings.
Combine the Buddha Face, Lotus Flower, and Five Wisdom Buddhas Mandala for a rich, transformative artistic journey.
Students who have already completed the Buddha Face in a previous course are welcome to begin directly with their mandala painting.
🌼 About the Teacher
Carmen Mensink is an internationally acclaimed thangka painter and teacher from the Netherlands.
Her teachings blend traditional drawing methods, Buddhist philosophy, and a warm, accessible approach that makes sacred art come alive.
📍 Practical Information
🗓️ Dates: June 19 – 26, 2026
📍 Location: [Insert retreat center or venue name here]
💰 Tuition & Registration: [Add pricing and registration link]
✨ Reserve Your Spot
Spaces are limited to ensure personal guidance for every participant.
👉 [Register Now] or [Contact Us for More Information]
In this retreat guided by Carmen Mensink, a renowned painter of thangkas; the traditional Tibetan scroll paintings of Buddhas and mandalas, you’ll learn how to traditionally draw (or paint) a Buddha, by using the ancient grid proportions of Carmen’s thangka lineage as a helpful tool.
In this retreat you’ll learn different colored pencil techniques and are also welcome to work with other materials such as watercolor, pastels, or paints. In addition to the art sessions you’ll discover the background, symbolism, and mantras of these Buddhas, and enjoy guided meditations.
When Buddhism traveled from India to other countries in Asia, its deities traveled along as well. This way, Avalokiteshvara (the Indian Bodhisattva of Compassion) became known in other countries under a different name, and through the centuries slowly changed form.
The two most famous manifestations of compassion became Guan Yin and Chenrezig, and in this retreat you can choose either one of them to draw (and maybe paint) as your subject:
Guan Yin
Guan Yin became famous in China, Korea and Japan, but is now famous all over the world. Over the centuries this deity slowly changed from a male into a female form, a fascinating story that you’ll learn all about in this course. In this retreat we will draw the female Guan Yin in the most common forms; the standing and seated Guan Yin.
Chenrezig
Chenrezig is the most well-known Buddha of Compassion and is the patron saint of Tibet. His mantra Om Mani Padme Hum is recited by people all over the world. In this retreat you will learn to draw his most common form, the Four-Armed-Chenrezig.
Suitable for everyone
Through her inspired approach and guidance, Carmen helps to bring out the best in each student, and makes this retreat suitable for students of all levels, from absolute beginners to advanced.
Drawing experience is not necessary. New students will first learn the basics by drawing a Buddha Face before continuing with this week’s subject. The Buddha Face course can also be taken beforehand, online at Carmen’s School for Tibetan Buddhist Art (this will save you time at Arts Week so you can immediately start with Chenrezig or Guan Yin).
You will return home with your own beautiful artwork(s).
NOTE: more advanced thangka students who want to create Amoghapasha, the Eight-armed or Thousand-armed Chenrezig, or need the specific list of supplies to paint a traditional thangka can contact Carmen directly by sending an email.
Choose between a 6- and an 8-day Retreat
- In the 6-day retreat (June 29-July 4) you’ll be able to draw your subject, discover its symbolism and learn the coloring techniques
- The 8-day retreat (June 29-July 6) will in addition teach you the traditional painting techniques, the possibility to start painting your subject, and in general will give you an even more in-depth experience
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.
Some pics of previous thangka retreats at Omega Institute:
Take the opportunity and learn more from renowned thangka painter Carmen Mensink
June 19, 2025 / NYC / Lecture: Milarepa, The Most Famous Tibetan Yogi and Mystic
June 20, 2025 / NYC / Workshop: Introduction to Thangka Art
June 21+22, 2025 / NYC / Thangka Drawing Course: Milarepa, the most famous Yogi and Mystic
June 29-July 4, 2025 / Thangka Art Retreat at Omega Institute / Rhinebeck, NY
June 29-July 6, 2025 / Thangka Painting Retreat at Omega Institute / Rhinebeck, NY