Welcome to the White Tara Inspiration Gallery! Here displayed are the artworks that were created during the online White Tara Thangka Art Course Edition Sept/Oct, 2020 at the School for Tibetan Buddhist Art (check out the next edition!)
These female Buddhas of Longevity 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?
I had no drawing experience and yet I was able to see wonderful Buddhas arise
The courses Carmen has created for her students are Amazing.
I had no drawing experience and yet I was able to see wonderful Buddhas arise with the ai...
I had no drawing experience and yet I was able to see wonderful Buddhas arise
The courses Carmen has created for her students are Amazing.
I had no drawing experience and yet I was able to see wonderful Buddhas arise with the aid of Thangka history, Buddhist teachings, mantras. and a wonderful instructor who makes it all so accessible.
The meditative drawing experience for me is one of peaceful, single pointed focus and development of patience that I never thought I could achieve.
Buddhas arising from paper and pencil… what a Joy!
May All Benefit
Katharine Macaulay
I am so grateful for this wonderful online experience
Carmen, I am so grateful for this wonderful online experience you have created. I love the Buddhist meditations and information that deepens my commit...
I am so grateful for this wonderful online experience
Carmen, I am so grateful for this wonderful online experience you have created. I love the Buddhist meditations and information that deepens my commitment and understanding.
For me the combination of my love of art and Buddhist practice coming together in one class is so precious!!
Much appreciation for your generosity in sharing your passions so clearly with deep respect for the tradition.
Namaste,
Valeria
Valeria
A whole new and pleasant way of drawing
I started the courses of Carmen completely blank and did not know what to expect. I liked all courses and it exceeded all my expectations. All materia...
A whole new and pleasant way of drawing
I started the courses of Carmen completely blank and did not know what to expect. I liked all courses and it exceeded all my expectations. All material is very clearly set up and is also very extensive.
Without any experience in drawing thangkas I was able to make a beautiful drawing thanks to all the instructions and tools provided in the course. I have been drawing and coloring mandalas for years, but this was a whole new and pleasant way of drawing.
Karin Meijer
Giving a real retreat feel
Thank you Carmen. It’s been great to ‘begin’ drawing White Tara through the zoom course. Incredibly well presented and delivered giving a real retreat...
Giving a real retreat feel
Thank you Carmen. It’s been great to ‘begin’ drawing White Tara through the zoom course. Incredibly well presented and delivered giving a real retreat feel, especially at such a time when we can’t meet in person.
It’s been lovely knowing that around the world we have all been focusing on White Tara at the same time.
Toni
So well listed and clearly explained
I very much enjoyed Carmens guidance, the step by step approach and her love for Thangka’s and their history and meaning. Especially the iconography, ...
So well listed and clearly explained
I very much enjoyed Carmens guidance, the step by step approach and her love for Thangka’s and their history and meaning. Especially the iconography, so well listed and clearly explained. It was a joyful time for me and for everyone in my house. Thank you Carmen!!!
Peter Prommel
Initially was apprehensive about drawing such a figure with so many intricate details
Thank you Carmen for providing this amazing and enriching experience of drawing the White Tara. The course was both informative and detailed. Initiall...
Initially was apprehensive about drawing such a figure with so many intricate details
Thank you Carmen for providing this amazing and enriching experience of drawing the White Tara. The course was both informative and detailed. Initially was apprehensive about drawing such a figure with so many intricate details but the energy of Tara was such that I could complete the entire drawing with focus and calmness never experienced before. Loved every bit of if.
Anjana
The tutorial videos are so helpful and the background info and practices are excellent
I loved the course and in fact it far exceeded my expectations.
Having done the Buddha face and Medicine Buddha courses I was really looking forward t...
The tutorial videos are so helpful and the background info and practices are excellent
I loved the course and in fact it far exceeded my expectations.
Having done the Buddha face and Medicine Buddha courses I was really looking forward to this. A request to return to work full time put a spanner in the works for my time planning but I eventually managed to dedicate a few days.
It was difficult if Im being honest. Im still getting used to drawing and erasing the grid lines is quite a big deal. Especially with the face where I was happy with it at first but having to go over small details after erasing the face changed quite considerably. I’m glad I got it done in time though as trying to do this without the videos would be really tough and Im not sure how it might turn out.
The tutorial videos are so helpful and the background info and practices are excellent. I loved the little touches like getting a gift of bookmarks – they’re fabulous ! and learned just how valuable a mono zero eraser is !! Looking forward to finding time now to learn to colour. Thank you so much. Its been a fantastic course.
Johnny
Fear of starting is my enemy. Once started, it flows sometimes.
This was a bit of a leap for me in terms of drawing. So many details! Fear of starting is my enemy. Once started, it flows sometimes. I’ve found 20-25 ...
Fear of starting is my enemy. Once started, it flows sometimes.
This was a bit of a leap for me in terms of drawing. So many details! Fear of starting is my enemy. Once started, it flows sometimes. I’ve found 20-25 minutes on, then a 5-10 minute break before restarting to work best. Otherwise I get too focused in the details.
Speaking of her face – that was an entire day in itself! I wanted her to be look beautiful, not looking like a male buddha. The challenge was the angle – yes there was an angled grid, but 50x65cm is a large canvas so I didn’t rotate. Ex: her smile had to be higher on the right side than the left, given the angle, etc. The many many details was the leap for me – if I was able to do the coloring class maybe I would have fared better? I now understand I need to PRACTICE!
I LOVED the short mantra song you provided. Struggled with memorizing the longer chant (part brain, part foreign-ness), but the shorter one I could bring with me during the day. Singing hits a different part of brain than speaking – brings a felt sense of heart. I just turned 45 on the 30th and I think White Tara was ok w/ me spending the evening getting rid of my grays – in attempt to be a fraction as beautiful as she is. Now that I got the hang of these details, I’ll less afraid to move forward and finishing her.
OH, and I’ve been meaning to share… 🙂 Drawing the lotus petals from her cushion? I always get the sense I’m drawing a bunch of baby’s butts!
Drawing experience – might as well be ‘nil. Some residual drawing showed up from high school, but I haven’t drawn since. Vs the one student who cranks out a full-color thangka in 2 weeks or less. If I’m honest however, my fear of starting the scary new stuff is my ultimate hindrance.
Courtney
It’s so much more than just a drawing course
This is my third online course from Carmen Mensink. I really enjoy taking these classes and learning about the history behind the iconometry. It’s so m...