Sacred Art Retreat
with Faith Stone and Karma Phuntsok
July 7-9 and July 14-16, 2023
Program fee: $500 plus the cost of accommodations
“The ancient practice of drawing Buddhas brings great richness into one’s life. It is a very contemplative practice, increasing focus and directing one’s attention in a very positive way. It’s a creative meditation in action.” – Faith Stone, Drawing Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
Learn to draw Buddhas using traditional eastern techniques, and leave with your own Buddha painting at the end of the weekend. Beginner through experienced artists are welcome. Workshops focus on either Medicine Buddha or Shakyamuni Buddha.
About the Buddhas
Shakyamuni Buddha is the historical Buddha. At the time of his enlightenment he is said to have touched his hand to the ground and called the earth to witness. Shakyamuni holds a begging bowl and wears Nirmanakaya robes (without adornment).
Medicine Buddha is the healing Buddha. He is blue in color and holds a medicine plant in his right hand and a begging bowl with a medicine flower in his left hand. He is seated on a lion throne. He wears Nirmanakaya robes (without adornment) as still worn by Tibetan Buddhist monks today. Medicine Buddha practice helps cure physical, mental, and emotional illness.
Retreat Schedule
*We recommend arriving the day before the retreat begins to settle in and get a good night’s sleep.
Day 1
8:00am Retreat begins; introduction in Art Cabin
8:15-12:00pm Beginning the process; drawing the thigse and outlining (breaks included)
12:00-1:00pm Lunch
1:00-3:45pm Outlining continued (breaks included)
4:00-5:00pm optional Hatha Yoga class, or continue working on your Buddha
5:00pm Dinner
6:30-7:30pm Evening Meditation (optional)
Day 2
5:30-6:30am Guru Gita chant (optional)
6:30-7:00am Guided Meditation (optional)
7:00am Breakfast
8:15-12:00pm Laying flat colors (breaks included)
12:00pm Lunch
1:00-3:45pm Laying flat colors continued (breaks included)
4:00-5:00pm optional Hatha Yoga class, or continue working on your Buddha
5:00pm Dinner
6:30-7:30pm Evening Meditation (optional)
Day 3
5:30-6:30am Guru Gita chant (optional)
6:30-7:00am Guided Meditation (optional)
7:00am Breakfast
8:15-12:00pm Adding in the background and offerings (breaks included)
12:00pm Lunch
1:00-3:45pm Final touches
4:00pm Retreat ends
About the Artists
Faith Stone
Author of “Drawing Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, “a how to” guide to traditional Tibetan style of drawing. I studied Tibetan Thankga painting at Naropa University in Boulder, CO and under the guidance of Khen Rinpoche, his brother Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal and the Drikung Skaybgon Chetsang. I attended Montserrat School of Visual Arts in Beverly, Massachusetts and then pursued a career as a chef, edible art. I have published three cookbooks and a novel, Rudi and the Green Apple.
My new direction is to fuse two disciplines and add local flavor. My background is drawing and painting traditional Tibetan thangkas, Buddhist scroll paintings. I am merging that with the practice of traditional Japanese woodblock prints, mokuhanga. Then, I add local landscape especially from Hawaii and Colorado where I spend most of my time. My goal is acknowledge a new art movement, that of American Buddhist Art. I honor the traditions of the past while making the artwork uniquely from a Western perspective. I believe the real joy of carving and painting Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Hindu deities is the idea of creating a space for the Buddha or deity to reside. The attitude is that once the painting is finished – The Buddha or Tara or Ganesha move in.
My woodblocks and paintings are held in private collections in the mainland, Hawaii, Europe and India. I was an award winning middle and high school art teacher in Kona, Hawaii and Boulder, Colorado. I am the director of Eldorado Yoga summer camp in Eldorado Springs, CO.
For more information, visit her website: www.faithstoneart.com
Karma Phuntsok
I was born in 1952 in Lhasa, Tibet. My family and I fled Tibet after the uprising against the Chinese in 1959, escaping into India as refugees. I studied drawing and painting through my school years in India. In 1973 I studied Thanka Painting with a master of traditional Tibetan Thanka painting in Nepal. Since then I have been making paintings based on Tibetan Buddhist deities.
In 1981 I migrated to Australia and now live in the “Bush” north of Kyogle with my wife and son. My paintings are collected world-wide and published in various books and magazines. My recent paintings are mostly experiments, interweaving traditional techniques and symbols with modern inspirations.
“The art of Karma Phuntsok is a unique and dynamic expression of contemporary Buddhist Art. Though formally trained as a traditional Thanka painter, Karma applies different techniques and materials in his work, often creating futuristic expressions of the time-honoured craft. The startling beauty and richness which graces his work is influenced by his diverse life experiences: from a childhood in Tibet under Chinese oppression to life as a refugee in India; his love life in the Australian Bush, and the veneration with which he holds His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Internationally acclaimed, Karma’s work is scattered throughout the world, in private collections and galleries, and in Australia at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Queensland Art Gallery.”
– David Templeman
I have never considered myself an artist, and am even intimidated by coloring or simple crafts at times. But this workshop made art so accessible and fun! It was inspiring see so many people with all different levels of experience bring a Buddha to life by the end of the weekend. The teachers were knowledgable, encouraging, and super helpful. I’m hoping to take this workshop again in the future!