Thangka Painting Weekend Course, Nov. 18 -20
Introduction
The teacher
Program
Price
Terms and conditions
Paint the Buddha – with thangka painter Carmen Mensink
In this weekend course you will learn how to draw Buddha Shakyamuni according to traditional Tibetan thangka scroll paintings.
The practice of Buddha Shakyamuni (the ‘Enlightened One’ or ‘Awakened One’) helps you purify negativity of body, speech and mind, which is essential if you want to make progress on the spiritual path.
In this weekend you will learn through a combination of slideshows, lectures and meditations about the history and cultural/religious context of Tibetan thangka paintings, and of the symbolism found in the Tibetan art itself. There will also be a detailed explanation of Buddha Shakyamuni’s mantra.
The practical element of drawing in the course is like a meditation in itself, and creates a lot of joy.
If you are a Buddhist practitioner, drawing the Buddha image significantly improves visualization in your meditations.
The course will be given in English (with Italian translation) and is suitable for everyone, including beginners with no drawing experience whatsoever! Beginners will first draw a Buddha Face before moving on to drawing the complete figure.
If you have drawn Buddha Shakyamuni in a previous course with Carmen you can also choose to draw Medicine Buddha instead. If you want this, please contact Carmen beforehand it so she can prepare this for you.
Materials to bring:
* 2 pieces of thick drawing paper size 50x65cm
* ruler 40-50cm
* pencil HB (a mechanical pencil if possible)
* an eraser
* Optional: colored pencils
Carmen Mensink
was born in The Netherlands (Zwolle, 1972) and is based in Amsterdam. After her graduation as graphic designer at the Royal Academy of Art she worked for many years in design and advertising agencies.
From an early age on Carmen was interested in Buddhism, and after she became a Buddhist practitioner, she met her thangka painter teacher, the well-known Andy Weber. Captivated by the rich tradition and detailed craftsmanship of these Tibetan Buddhist paintings she started with him her many years of training, thirteen in total.
Thangka drawing & painting Classes
As is tradition within a thangka lineage, the teacher points out his successor(s), and in 2003 Andy told Carmen that it now was time for her to start teaching. It was something she never saw coming but took on with much love, passion and dedication. So in the beginning, when she was still working as a graphic designer, she started offering thangka classes in Amsterdam, which slowly expanded.
From 2008 on Carmen paints and teaches the art of thangka full time and travels around the world for it -her classes and lectures can be joined in Europe, the United States and in Asia, where she offers them at universities, museums and Buddhist centers. Carmen also offers private thangka teachings as well as thangka restoration services, and she can paint your Buddha statues according to tradition.
Friday 18th of November
17.00 Arriving and checking in in your room
19.30 Evening dinner with the group
After that will be the introduction, slideshow & talk about the subject
Saturday 19th of November
Course full day
Sunday 20th of November
Course till 17.00
Course fee:
Price Early bird: € 185 when registering before Oct 8
Regular Price: € 205 (after Oct 8)
Including: full Board, vegetarian diet and the primary use of organic and local food. Snacks, fruits, tea and coffee are available to participants during the day. Table wine is included during the dinner. Linens are provided. Towels can be rented on site at a charge of € 5 per set per person.
Date : 18 – 20 Novembre 2016
Participants will sleep in shared apartments during the workshop, before/after the workshop it is possible to rent an entire apartment with kitchenette for private use! Heating of apartments has to be paid apart depending on use.
The workshop will take place if the minimum number of participants is reached before the 8th of October.
Deposit:
We will ask a deposit of € 50 per person/participant to the Casale Pundarika.
The rest has to be paid at your arrival in cash or some days ahead via bank transfer.
Cancellation:
If a participant cancels within 2 weeks prior to arrival date, we will keep € 50 of admin fee.
If a replacing participant is found no fee applies.