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A completed thangka, however beautiful or impressive, never tells the full story of the complex process artists undergo to create such a divine image. We have compiled this list of Twelve steps involved in producing a traditional Tibetan sacred painting to help you appreciate your new thangka. Although certain elements of thangka painting have changed since artists began painting in exile, much of Tibet's traditional styles and techniques have been painstakingly retained. We hope the following will both interest and enlighten you as to this sacred ancient art.
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1.Stretching the canvas
Stretching the canvas in the traditional way involves sewing the canvas into a flexible frame and treating the canvas with gesso, stretching the fabric between layers until it becomes a suitable painting surface. The canvas is then sanded and smoothed ready for the construction of the grid.
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2.Constructing the grid
The thangka painter plans the initial layout of the proposed thangka, deciding upon the number, layout and size of the deities to be painted. At this point the individual grids are calculated and drawn.
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3.Initial drawing of the deity and landscape
The chosen Buddhas are drawn within their grids and landscape details are added.
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4.Inking the sketch
The initial sketch is outlined in ink allowing the removal of the calculated grids.
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5.Painting the Buddha and its landscape
The initial colouring of the thangka takes place, laying a ground for all dry shading.
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6.Shading the thangka
The artist now of dry and wet shades the thangka to provide a feeling of depth.
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7.Application of gold
The ornaments of the deities depicted and other objects in the thangka are painted with Tibetan gold according to commission.
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8. Outlining
With indigo and deep red the thangka painter now outlines all the details in the thangka.
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9. 'Opening the eyes' of the Buddha
This is when, traditionally, the Buddha is said to enter the image. The act of painting the eyes of the deity is the most sacred stage of thangka painting and is performed at dawn on an auspicious day.
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10. Writing Tibetan letters on the reverse of the thangka
The three letters OM , AH and HUM mark the Crown, Throat and Heart Chakras respectively.
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11. Framing with brocade
The finished painting is sewn within a Brocade frame and finished with ribbons and silk to protect the image. The work of art is now recognisable as a Tibetan Buddhist Thangka!
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12. CONSECRATION
This final step is what distinguishes Tibetan Buddhist practice from ordinary "idol worship." The practitioner takes his or her newly completed thangka to a highly realized Buddhist master and makes offerings to request the master's blessings.
The master, endowed with the clear mind of enlightenment, is able to "bring alive" the image on the thangka by infusing it with energy and beseeching the deity to open its eyes and look upon all sentient beings. The thangka, having now been properly consecrated, is a receptacle of wisdom. It is ready to be hung and venerated as a genuine living embodiment of enlightened mind.
It is important to note that this final step is only necessary if the thangka artist himself is not acknowledged as a realized being. Over the centuries, many important Buddhist masters have intentionally taken rebirth as thangka painters, and if such an artist creates a thangka, the very mind of the artist naturally consecrates the image being painted. In such cases, there is no need to seek the services of a lama for an additional consecration.
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