Tibetan Art Retreat: Drawing the Face of Enlightenment

A training in the traditional art of Tibetan Buddhist Thangka painting: Drawing the Buddha.

With master thangka painter Greg Smith.

Picture the buddha – he sits on the earth, unoccupied, awake and full of appreciation – joyful just to be alive.

Enlightenment can’t be described but the contemplative art of thangka painting is about communicating this awake mind with form and color. 

This retreat is mostly for those who are new to Thangka painting but is also open to those have experience from past thangka studies and will appreciate a retreat environment to continue this work. The retreat focuses on contemplative drawing and brushwork and includes daily sessions of meditation.

We will work according to  traditional methods  – starting with drawing the Buddha using the ancient proportional system, handed from teacher to student. The medium will be pencil, paper, ink and fine line brush drawing technique. Those with more experience are welcome to bring other materials such as canvas and paints to work with.

We will also explore how this iconography developed in India and Tibet to complement the path of awakening taught by the Buddha and the great teachers in Tibet. To inspire our work we will view slides of Greg’s works and thangkas painted by great artists of the past as well as viewing video teachings of artist and meditation master, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

Open to new and experienced Thangka students.

Daily Program Schedule:

9:00 am: Morning chants and meditation

10:00 am: Drawing 

12:00pm – 2:00pm: Lunch and break

2:00pm: Meditation

3:00pm: Drawing

4:00pm: Tea break

4:30pm: Drawing

5:30pm: Dinner and break

7:00pm: Teachings and discussion