A Thangka(Tibetan: ཐང་ཀ་, Nepal Bhasa: पौभा) is a painted or embroidered Buddhist banner, mainly depicting images from Tibetan Buddhism. They are hung in monasteries or family altars and occasionally carried by monks in ceremonial processions. The mission of Digital Thangka is to offer the global community Thangka images, firmly rooted in Tibetan painting traditions, but drawn with the perfection of modern computer systems. Traditional Thangkas are drawn, based on a very specific set of rules. These rules include — among others — the drawing order, colouring, shading and finishing. Digital Thangka follows these rules as close as possible. If you want to follow the drawing of mythangka's, you can visit (and Like) Digital Thangka on Facebook.Paper and canvas prints can be purchased through fineartamerica.com and are delivered world-wide.Digital Thangka also offers complete Thangkas with brocade, based on a Giclée print on canvas. Contact Digital Thangka for more information.
Thangka is pronounced as [tʰɑːŋkɑː, the 'th' as an aspirated 't' of top and the 'a' as in the word father).In Tibetan the word ‘thang’ means flat, and thus the Thangka is a kind of painting done on a flat surface; thangkas can be rolled up when not required for display or when they need to be transported
An example of a finished Thangka with brocade.
Digital Thangka is a one-man enterprise: the thangka painter Fred van der Zee. With extensive knowledge and experience in graphic design and computer art, Fred is a student of the well-known Thangka painter Andy Weber since 2009.His quest is to translate 1500 years of traditional Thangka painting into modern age computer graphics.
Digital Thangka´s fan art page on Facebook contains a very concise description of the drawing process: if you want to learn to draw Thangka images, please consult a qualified teacher.Apart from the rules mentioned, there are also definitions and guidelines regarding the spiritual awareness and mindset of the Thangka painter.
