For our recent presentation on the Tibetan art classes at the Mayul school, Professor Yoonmi Nam created some handouts so that everyone can learn to draw a Buddha in the Tibetan style. You will find these with PDF versions to download below.

These handouts follow the methods of the Tibetan art teacher, Dorje, at the Mayul School. Dorje begins each class by sketching a figure, and he often includes the template needed to create the correct proportions for the figure. Students have to master the proportions on these templates to know how to draw according to Tibetan artistic conventions. Tibetan paintings begin as drawings to which color is added, hence drawing is the literal foundation for Tibetan painting.

Professor Nam has provided images within a grid and the initial lines drawn onto that grid that form the foundation for two figures: the head of a Buddha and a seated Buddha.

buddha head, detail

Head Guidelines

seated buddha

Seated Buddha Guidelines

Try drawing your own Buddha and let us hear about it.

– Eric Rath