School for Tibetan Buddhist Art

Note to English speakers: this email is about the Green Tara Thangka Retreat in The Netherlands. This subject is also offered in the Italy Thangka Painting Retreat. 19 t/m 22 Feb, 2026, VeluweGroene Tara De Vrouwelijke Manifestatie Groene Tara is de bekendste vrouwelijke Boeddha, en in deze thangkacursus leer je haar te tekenen (en kun je er later evt schilderen) volgens de Tibetaans Boeddhistische traditie van thangka.Tara is een van de meest vereerde Boeddha’s en is de belichaming van...

May 2-9, 2026Italy Thangka Painting Retreat€108 discount for the first 10 Registrants! Set in a beautiful new location in Umbria, the 'Green Heart of Italy,' this retreat is for anyone who is interested in Buddhism and Art. You do not need to have drawing or painting experience, Carmen will guide you personally and will bring you to a higher level. You can choose from different subjects, including GREEN TARA. The first 10 registrants get a €108 discount and pay €382 for the retreat part...

Dear all, In a previous newsletter I had let you known that the Dutch TV program 'Zin in Morgen' had been filming a full day during my Thangka Summer Retreat here in The Netherlands.Last week it was broadcasted.And now I can finally show it to you. This portrait shows me teaching and interacting with my students, who also show their artworks and speak about their experience. In the accompanying interview I speak about how I got in touch with Tibetan Buddhism, the importance it has in my life,...

Happy Diwali!The Festival of Lights -celebrated by Hindus and also by people of other faiths- started yesterday. It generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance 🙏🏼 During Diwali, Rangoli is created at the entrance of a house -an art form of making temporary, decorative designs on the ground. They are created as an invitation to deities (especially Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth) and prosperity. Check out the beautiful pics that I...

Dear Reader, It's been a while since you last heard from me.Hope you had a wonderful summer and are enjoying the fall! 🍁 I certainly did. Besides the thangka painting retreat I gave in The Netherlands -where a TV crew came recording a full day to make a portrait of my work- I also enjoyed my free time in Amsterdam with festivals and friends. See the pics in this newsletter! A couple of weeks ago I taught in northern Portugal, where I offered a ten day Thangka and Meditation Intensive Retreat...

Thangka Art & Meditation Intensive Retreat 4th - 13th September 2025 PORTUGAL Brahma Vihara, North Portugal The Most Famous Tibetan Yogi and MysticThe Most Famous Tibetan Yogi and MysticThe Most Famous Tibetan Yogi and My Co-hosted by Burgs and Carmen Mensink, this 10 day retreat will be a very special and unique event giving students an immersive and nourishing experience while learning new skills whilst simultaneously working at your meditation practice. Learning to draw the Buddhas we will...

Dear Reader, Hope you're enjoying your Summer so far! ☀️I just got back to Amsterdam from the US, where I've been teaching in NYC and upstate NY, see the pics in this mail. It was great meeting so many of my long time students again (-and many new ones-and many new ones!)Currently I'm busy with all preparations for the Thangka Summer Retreat here in The Netherlands (full with waitlist), and I wanted to let you know that registration is now open for most thangka classes this Fall: Different...

Introduction to Thangka Art Jun 20 / Tibet House, NYCEvening class incl. drawing the face of the BuddhaIn this wonderful 6 or 8-day Thangka Retreat during Arts Week at Omega Institute you will learn to draw (and color or paint) a Buddha of Compassion (such as Chenrezig or Guan Yin), according to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Suitable for everyone, from beginners to advanced. A comfortable stay with full board is included, or stay near in the sweet town of Rinebeck. and apart from the art...

Sign up for the upcoming lectures, workshops and retreats in the US Dear Reader, How are you? Hope you are enjoying this beautiful time of year.I just came back from Tuscany where I gave my annual thangka painting retreat -check out the pics below. Currently I'm preparing for the upcoming events at Tibet House in NYC, such as the Introduction to Thangka evening workshop, and the Lecture and Thangka Course on Milarepa, Tibet's fascinating Yogi, Mystic and Poet. After that, at the fabulous...