Himalayan scroll painting
Thangkas painted by hand, line by line.
Buddhas, Taras and mandalas drawn to traditional proportions and coloured with layered pigment and gold — made to be lived with, not just looked at.
Shop by subject
View all →Buddhas & Bodhisattvas
Enlightened figures of wisdom and compassion, painted to traditional iconometric grids.
Taras
Green, White and the Twenty-One Taras — swift protection and long life.
Mandalas
Sacred geometry for contemplation, from fine-line Kalachakra to mantra mandalas.
Wheel of Life & Teaching
Narrative and teaching paintings: the Bhavachakra, lineage trees and more.
Featured thangkas
View all →SampleShakyamuni Buddha
SampleMedicine Buddha
SampleChenrezig (Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara)
SampleManjushri
SampleGreen Tara
SampleWhite Tara
SampleKalachakra Mandala
SampleWheel of Life (Bhavachakra)
What goes into a thangka
A thangka is built up slowly. The process below is the traditional one; the time involved is why a fine piece is measured in weeks and months rather than days.
- CanvasCotton is stretched on a frame, sized with gesso and burnished smooth on both sides.
- DrawingThe figure is laid out on an iconometric grid so every proportion follows the texts.
- ColourFlat grounds first, then shading in many thin layers, from the sky down to the lotus.
- Gold & eyesGold line-work is applied and burnished; the eyes are opened last of all.
Three grades, plainly described
Standard, Fine and Master refer to the density of detail and hours at the easel. Each listing says which it is.
Rolled or mounted
Paintings ship rolled in a rigid tube. Traditional silk brocade mounting can be arranged on request.
Ask before you buy
Choosing a subject is personal. The buying guide explains sizes, subjects and what to look for.