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4 day Thangka Art Retreat in Venice, Italy - Drawing Milarepa, the most famous Tibetan Yogi and Mystic

6-9 November 2025
Milarepa
Tibetan Yogi, Mystic and Poet
Thangka Drawing Course

Creating buddhist art in the most beautiful city in the world!

During this extended weekend workshop in Venice with renowned thangka painter Carmen Mensink from The Netherlands, you will learn to draw (and perhaps later paint) this inspiring yogi according to the tradition of thangka (Tibetan scroll paintings).
This special art course is held in a special place: a traditional Venetian Palazzo on one of the canals (with amazing views!) in the heart of Venice. Creating art in the city where you are surrounded by art is such a great combination.

In addition to the thangka course you can explore the city on foot, take the vaporetto (water bus) to visit the other islands such as Murano (famous for its glasswork), Burano (famous for its lace and the colorful houses), or one of the many museums.

A True Inspiration
Milarepa (1052-1135), was a tantric yogi and mystic. He is known for his remarkable determination and personal growth, and his inspiring story describes the familiar human progression from confusion to clarity.
Milarepa is often illustrated as an ascetic in a meditation cave, with his right hand behind his ear. This ‘listening’ posture symbolizes his way of teaching the dharma through songs and poems.

Transformation
Milarepa’s early life was characterized by extreme suffering, which was reflected in the terrible negative actions he performed at a young age.
When he realized what he had done, Milarepa saw the light and -tormented by guilt and remorse- set out in search of insight and a teacher, which he found in the famous Marpa. Marpa relentlessly subjected him to one severe test after another, and taught him how to use his fierce and tenacious nature to transform his mind.
As a great tantric yogi, Milarepa achieved many spiritual experiences and eventually full enlightenment. His songs and poems on realization became famous.

In addition to the drawing sessions, you will learn everything about Milarepa’s life, his iconography and meaning through the lectures. You will also learn his mantra and how to work with it.

For whom?
This course is suitable for both beginners (yes, even if you have no drawing experience) and advanced students. Carmen guides everyone at their own level and takes them to a higher one.

Is this is your first thangka course with Carmen?
Then you will traditionally first learn to draw the Face of the Buddha before you start on Milarepa. This can be done during the course, but if you want to immediately start with Milarepa in Venice (so you can make the most out of it) you can also do it beforehand Online at the School for Tibetan Buddhist Art.

Drawing a Buddha is a meditation in itself and creates inner peace and joy. When you’re a Buddhist practitioner, the drawing of the Buddha can improve your visualization meditation on a great scale. Buddhist lamas say: “When you draw a Buddha, you are drawing your own mind.”