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?
Peggy Sue McRae
The material is so well presented
Having taken other online Thangka courses from Carmen I knew that it would be a challenge this time to set aside enough quiet time to spend with White...
The material is so well presented
Having taken other online Thangka courses from Carmen I knew that it would be a challenge this time to set aside enough quiet time to spend with White Tara.
It was a challenge and yet I found the mantra and meditation practices really helped me stay calm during an otherwise stressful time.
I love how this course, and the others I’ve taken, are a pathway back to my neglected Buddhist practice through art.
The material is so well presented I value the whole package. Carmen’s voice has a calming effect.
I plan to use paint this time to finish my White Tara.
Peggy Sue McRae
Peter Prommel
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
Courtney
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
Moira McCaul
Everything was perfect!
Everything was perfect! I hope to have time soon to work on completing Tara 🙂
Everything was perfect!
Everything was perfect! I hope to have time soon to work on completing Tara 🙂
Moira McCaul
Marco
Had some but not much experience in drawing
I absolutely loved drawing White Tara. Had some but not much experience in drawing and am amazed how she manifested on paper 😉
Had some but not much experience in drawing
I absolutely loved drawing White Tara. Had some but not much experience in drawing and am amazed how she manifested on paper 😉
Marco
Gé van Lieshout- Klarenaar
I dedicated the drawing to my sister after her open heart surgery
Dear Carmen and student’s,
The course was a wonderfull experience for me. It gave me a lot of inspiration and energy. From day one I was surprised by t...
I dedicated the drawing to my sister after her open heart surgery
Dear Carmen and student’s,
The course was a wonderfull experience for me. It gave me a lot of inspiration and energy. From day one I was surprised by that energy that befell me.
I have been drawing different buddha’s before, but with White Tara there was a connection, I never had experienced before. Her mantra keeps coming in to my mind. Last night even, I dreamt that the buddha Amithabha, her companion above her in the drawing, presented to me the bowl he is holding in his hands. Now I probably have to figure out what it means for me 🙂
He is the buddha of meditation and maybe he says to me to take more time to meditate. I find this the most difficult exercise. It seems never to be the right moment to sit and meditate :).
I’ve enjoyed every aspect of this course including the lectures. I was very happy that I could go back each time to the information. It gave me a lot more time to take it all in, as English is not my native language.
I have dedicated the drawing to my oldest sister who is going through a difficult period after an open heart surgery on the 8th of October.
Hope to follow more of your courses in the future.
Thank you Carmen for your warm energy.
Love Gé
Gé van Lieshout- Klarenaar
Albel Sarmiento Cobo
Loving all the experience !
Loving all the experience ! Much more than I could imagine, still have some work to do, with flowers and landscape, so looking for coloring her and ap...
Loving all the experience !
Loving all the experience ! Much more than I could imagine, still have some work to do, with flowers and landscape, so looking for coloring her and apply all the amazing tips from the class!!! 🥰✨👩🏻🎨
La mejor de las experiencias, la energia de Tara Blanca es maravillosa, aun tengo tarea pendiente con el fondo sin embargo, esta siendo un maravilloso viaje ✨💖✨
Albel Sarmiento Cobo
Teresa McDowell
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...
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 much more than just a drawing course.
Teresa McDowell
Katharine Macaulay
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
Toni
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
Maxine
Confident that I can improve my drawing colouring skills with the courses
Thank you Carmen for another amazing drawing and colouring course, so skilfully presented.
I loved drawing this White Tara: I feel that I have a very ...
Confident that I can improve my drawing colouring skills with the courses
Thank you Carmen for another amazing drawing and colouring course, so skilfully presented.
I loved drawing this White Tara: I feel that I have a very complete understanding of what I am drawing.
I have lots to learn but confident that I can improve my drawing and develop some skill with colouring techniques if I follow your Colouring Techniques course. Big, big thanks for making this last course available to your students for an extended time.
I’m looking forward to colouring my White Tara – and to your next course.
Maxine
Michel
I thought I would never be able to draw all the details
I thought I would never be able to draw all the details of White Tara but I found increasing confidence in my abilities as I put pencil to paper. Now ...
I thought I would never be able to draw all the details
I thought I would never be able to draw all the details of White Tara but I found increasing confidence in my abilities as I put pencil to paper. Now can’t wait to do the shading and coloring course! It was a pleasure to learn about the history of Tara and have an opportunity to do the meditations. Thanks Carmen! Look forward to many more!