TRANSLATIONS: All videos in the courses offer subtitles in English, Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish and French. For any other language contact us.
WANT TO GIFT A COURSE OR BUNDLE? Check the 'Send as gift' box on your checkout page (only valid for one-time purchases)
50% OF THE PROCEEDS OF ALL COURSES AND COURSE BUNDLES STARTING IN SEP GO TO NEPAL RELIEF FUNDS
On August 26, a catastrophic flooding hit the Nepal-Tibet border region. Villages and key bridges have been completely swept away.
The official death toll has reached close to 1400 people. Over 5000 are still missing and roughly 85,000 people that have been directly affected.
Want to help? Read more
Classes full? Stay informed and Subscribe to the Newsletter
Prefer to join an in-person thangka course? Go to All Upcoming Courses at the main website tibetanbuddhist.com.
Start Your Thangka Journey Now
The following course can be started any time and are immediately available for you after purchase:
🙏🏼
BUDDHA FACE | Start at time of purchase
Learn to draw the Face of the Buddha according to the Tibetan Thangka Tradition. This is where your thangka art journey starts. For people with and without drawing experience. Personal guidance when needed. This course is also the requirement for follow-up courses such as The Buddha (Shakyamuni), and Medicine Buddha. From the time of purchase you'll get 10 days access to this short course, that takes most people 1 to 2 days to finish.
🙏🏼
TARA'S MUDRA | Start at time of purchase
Learn to draw the Hand with Lotus of Green Tara & White Tara (the most famous female Buddhas), according to the Tibetan Thangka Tradition.
For people with and without drawing experience. Personal guidance when needed.
From the time of purchase you'll get 10 days access to this short course, that takes most people 1 to 2 days to finish.
Start Your Thangka Journey on Specific Date
The following courses are offered on specific dates, joined by students from all over the world:
🙏🏼
EIGHT AUSPICIOUS SYMBOLS | Nov 27, 2026-Feb 7, 2027
(ending on Losar, Tibetan New Year!)
An in-depth 10 week thangka course on Tibet's most famous symbols of prosperity, that will bring you into the new year full of good-fortune and well-being. Each week a new module and symbol opens up to you while the previous ones stay open to catch up when needed. Limited amount of students and unlimited personal guidance.
Save Money & Learn More by bundling courses
🙏🏼
BUDDHA FACE | Nov 27-Dec 6, 2026
Learn to draw the Face of the Buddha according to the Tibetan Thangka Tradition.
This course is also the requirement for follow-up courses like The Buddha, the Medicine Buddha and White Tara.
Save Money & Learn More by bundling courses
Buddha Face + Colouring Techniques
Want to combine the Buddha Face with the White Tara Course? See the Course Bundles offered below.
NOTE: Prefer to start at a date of your choice? Then go here for the same course
🙏🏼
WHITE TARA | Dec 11, 2026-Feb 7, 2027 (ends on Losar, Tibetan New Year!)
Learn everything about the female Buddha of Longevity, and learn how to draw her according to the Tibetan Thangka Tradition.
The grids and handouts needed for this course will be shipped to you beforehand.
Save Money & Learn More by bundling courses
Bundle with the Buddha Face course (prerequisite) included:
Buddha Face + White Tara + Coloring Techniques
Bundle for those who have already drawn the Buddha Face with Carmen before:
DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED
The following courses will be offered in 2027. Sign up for the Newsletter to stay updated.
🙏🏼
THE BUDDHA | 2027 date to be announced
An in-depth thangka course on drawing The Buddha (Shakyamuni). Limited amount of students and unlimited personal guidance.
The grids and handouts needed for this course will be shipped to you beforehand.
🙏🏼
MEDICINE BUDDHA | 2027 date to be announced
An in-depth thangka art course on the Buddha of Healing. Limited amount of students and unlimited personal guidance.
The grids and handouts needed for this course will be shipped to you beforehand.
An all around great course
"I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised.
I liked how the art lessons were broken down so that I didn't feel overwhelmed.
I also enjoyed learning about the history of the Thangka, and participating in the meditations. I feel that it was an all around great course, and I'm glad that I got to participate.
I feel that the drawing video was the most useful to me. I liked how the individual lines were shown step by step on the video."
Teresa McDowell, Minnesota, USA
I didn't think I could draw a full Buddha
"The course felt thorough. Carmen is adept at instruction and encouragement!
I loved learning about the mantra.
I learned a lot in my one-on-one Zoom session.
I didn’t think I could draw a full Buddha. It was a great experience. I learned a lot about thangka methods, working with pencil, and colors.
In addition, learned about the Medicine Buddha and his mantra, plants, symbolism.
Thank you Carmen!"
You have to experience it yourself!
"I really enjoy the courses of Carmen.
Can't describe how peaceful and fulfilling it is, you have to experience it yourself!"
Thangka Art Courses on all levels
The School for Tibetan Buddhist Art offers courses to people on all different levels, from those with no drawing experience whatsoever to advanced thangka students.
Click on the button that describes you best to view the courses that are suitable for you:
Learn about Tibetan Buddhist Art
Enjoy the engaging lectures on the symbolism and iconography of each course subject.
Create your own Tibetan Buddha
In a clear step by step process, you'll draw at your own home, on your own time and at your own pace.
Meditate & Experience
Connect with an ancient tradition as well as with yourself during the drawing process and meditations.
Meet the instructor
Carmen Mensink is the founder of the School for Tibetan Buddhist Art. She is an internationally renowned painter of thangkas, the traditional Tibetan scroll paintings of Buddhas and mandalas.
She is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and has nearly two decades of experience in teaching this beautiful art, as well as Buddhist meditation and philosophy, at museums, universities, and Buddhist Centers around the world.
Through her courses, Thangka Talks videos, articles, and private thangka teachings, Carmen has guided thousands of people along the Buddhist Art & Dharma path.
Carmen has been featured in dozens of publications and has been teaching at places including the ones on the left.
She is also being asked to work on related Tibetan art forms, including large floor paintings of the '8 Auspicious Symbols' to welcome the Dalai Lama in the Netherlands in 2009, 2014 and 2018. For more info go to www.tibetan-buddhist-art.com
