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Professional Thangka painter Thomas Edwards will present the first of a series of weekend workshops at Thekchen Choling Syracuse (109 East Ave., Minoa) on Friday-Sunday, June 7-9.

Suitable for people with no drawing or painting skills, the workshop blends history, theory and practice.

Tibetan for “recorded message,” Thangka refers to a form of Buddhist art that originated in that country in the 11th century.

Thangka paintings are tools for meditation, worship and teaching, explains the Cortland, New York, resident, who has created thousands of such works. “Each painting follows a strict set of rules differing from those of traditional fine art.”

Edwards’ workshop is open to teenagers and adults of all backgrounds, including Buddhist scholars and practitioners. Space is limited. To register or receive more information, contact Thekchen Choling Syracuse at tccl.syracuse@gmail.com or call 315.480.1088.

Tuition is $175 and includes the cost of an instructional booklet, materials and supplies. In addition to providing their own lodging, attendees can cultivate Buddhist merit by making a monetary donation to Edwards.

Babette Teich-Visco is president of Thekchen Choling Syracuse, which marks its 10th anniversary this fall. Edwards’ program, she says, is part of a larger effort to raise awareness of the temple—and Buddhism, in general—and foster a sense of community.

“Thomas has a laid-back style that belies his expertise and years of experience,” Teich-Visco continues. “Whether you’re new to Buddhism or have been practicing it for a long time, you’ll appreciate his fun, engaging approach.”

Attendees will learn about the history, types and techniques of Thangka art, before sketching, outlining and painting their own figure—specifically, the head of Shakyamuni Buddha, who founded Buddhism more than 2,500 years ago.

The process is incumbent on measurements and proportions, notably a grid system that determines the size and placement of visual elements.

“Nothing is left to chance,” says Edwards, adding that a Thangka painting usually takes about a month to complete. “The core purpose of this practice is to help sentient beings attain enlightenment.”

Edwards is rare among American Thangka painters in that he creates in a traditional Tibetan style, known for its smooth, ornate preciosity, and then mounts his own work.

A lifelong learner, he regularly travels to Dharamshala in northern India—home of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama—to study Buddhist art. Edwards’ teachers include Tenzin Ngodup and Mimar Tsering, both students of the late Sangye Yeshi, His Holiness’ personal Thangka painter.

Whether depicting a deity, a mandala (a geometric figure with symbolic meaning) or a significant event from the life of a Buddhist master, Edwards adheres to exacting standards—unsigned and undated illustrations of deities with identical proportions and curated stances, all courtesy of a confined color palette.

“Thangka paintings can house the spirits of deities,” says Edwards, who compares his work to sacred geometry. “These paintings are capable of revealing hidden dimensions of the truth.”

According to Buddhism, art is one of the five major sciences of knowledge. The others are grammar, medicine, logic and philosophy. Thekchen Choling Syracuse is part of Thekchen Choling, a Buddhist temple with branches in Singapore and Malaysia. The Syracuse-based organization offers programs and activities and houses an array of rare, precious relics.