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?
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 😉
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...
Karin Meijer
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
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
Sherry
Contemplating White Tara’s qualities and feeling her blessings!
I loved immersing myself in contemplating White Tara’s qualities and feeling her blessings! For me, it was a challenge – my current eye for symmetry an...
Contemplating White Tara’s qualities and feeling her blessings!
I loved immersing myself in contemplating White Tara’s qualities and feeling her blessings! For me, it was a challenge – my current eye for symmetry and spatial relationships isn’t well developed but I felt quite motivated to keep trying! Carmen is a font of information and an excellent teacher.
Sherry
Kirsten Karacan
The way how Carmen guides through the course
I will finish her the next days.
I made the experience that I need longer time for drawing.
The way how Carmen guides through the course is really pro...
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
Joyce Isabelle
I learned a lot
This course was beyond my expectations. I learned a lot. I like the eastern and western perspectives. I look at color differently now. Techniques lear...
Alaya
I loved getting to know White Tara so intimately
I loved getting to know White Tara so intimately. The program was outstanding. Carmen has done a fabulous job putting this together in such a clear fo...
I loved getting to know White Tara so intimately
I loved getting to know White Tara so intimately. The program was outstanding. Carmen has done a fabulous job putting this together in such a clear format.
An artist with any formal education I do not have and very much enjoyed learning from Carmen her vast knowledge of both art history and Buddhism.
Carmen has always been so encouraging and inspiration because I thought I’d never get this far.
I still have much to color and hope to have it done soon.
Thank You!
Alaya
Valeria
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