Friday, June 12 - Sunday, June 14, 2026

In-Person

Co-hosted with Shantideva Center.

-

Friday, June 12 | 6:00 - 9:00 PM ET

Saturday, June 13 | 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM ET (with 1hr lunch break)

Sunday, June 14 | 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET (with 1hr lunch break)

-

Full Weekend: $280

*Full Weekend registration includes a Thursday evening lecture hosted by Shantideva Center. More information is coming soon.

Friday Only: General Admission: $80 | Sponsor Admission: $100 | Benefactor Admission: $120

Saturday & Sunday Only: General Admission: $220 | Sponsor Admission: $250 | Benefactor Admission: $300

The use of the following materials is included in the workshop fee: drawing paper, pencils, erasers, and rulers.

If you prefer to bring your own materials in addition, as well as colored pencils, for example, please do so. You may also want to bring a notebook and a pen to make notes during this class.

-

Join us for a beautiful weekend with renowned thangka painter Carmen Mensink from the Netherlands! 

Green Tara is the most famous female Buddha, and in this thangka course, you’ll learn to draw her (and perhaps paint her later) according to the Tibetan Buddhist thangka tradition.

Tara is one of the most revered Buddhas and is the embodiment of active compassion. She extends her hand - like a mother to her child - to fulfill all wishes. She stands with her right foot extended, ready to help where needed.

By drawing/painting her, practicing her meditation, and reciting her mantra, you can make a connection with Tara’s energy. There are many stories of people being rescued from difficult circumstances while reciting Tara’s mantra or invoking her name.

Green Tara is also considered one of the first emancipated women.
When other -male- practitioners instructed her to pray only for a subsequent incarnation in a male body, arguing that this was the only way to attain Enlightenment, Tara made the following unwavering vow:
“Until Samsara is empty, I shall work for the benefit of all sentient beings, but always in a female body!”

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Friday, June 12 | 6:00 - 9:00 PM ET

PREREQUISITE WORKSHOP:  The Face of the Buddha 

This retreat is for students of all levels, but the prerequisite for this topic is that you have completed Carmen’s basic workshop, The Face of the Buddha.

Please Note: this workshop is in-person only and will not be recorded or livestreamed.

 If you can't join us for this workshop, please complete it on your own via the recorded webinar: Online Workshop Buddha Face (schedule at least three hours for this workshop).

Saturday, June 13 | 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM ET

Green Tara Thangka Drawing Course (with 1 hr lunch break)

Please Note: this workshop is in-person only and will not be recorded or livestreamed.

Sunday, June 14 | 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET

Green Tara Thangka Drawing Course (with 1 hr lunch break)

Please Note: this workshop is in-person only and will not be recorded or livestreamed.

TEACHER BIO

Carmen Mensink: a painter & teacher of Tibetan Buddhist Art.

Carmen was born in The Netherlands and is based in Amsterdam. After her graduation as a 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.

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.

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 and 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.