Sacred Painting Thangka Painting
The luminous tradition of Tibetan scroll painting using natural mineral pigments, gold, and centuries-old techniques to depict Buddhist deities and mandalas.
See classes →Dharamsala · Himachal Pradesh · India
The Living Art
of Tibet
Vermillion Arts preserves and transmits the sacred artistic traditions of Tibet — thangka painting, bronze sculpture, calligraphy, and textile art — through rigorous teaching, vibrant exhibition, and an enduring community of practitioners.
Our Art Forms
Traditions Preserved, Skills Alive
Each art form taught at Vermillion Arts carries centuries of spiritual meaning and aesthetic mastery. Our master artists guide students from first brushstroke to completed masterwork.
Sacred Painting 
Three-Dimensional Art Buddhist Sculpture
Lost-wax bronze casting and clay modelling traditions from Tibet and Nepal, creating devotional images with precise iconometric proportions.
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Fibre Arts Textile & Appliqué
Traditional Tibetan weaving, silk appliqué thangka, and embroidery — vibrantly coloured textiles with auspicious symbols woven into every thread.
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Classes for Every Level
From weekend introductions to year-long intensive study, Vermillion Arts offers structured learning paths for students at every stage of their artistic journey.
Thangka Painting — Intro
Learn the foundational techniques of Tibetan scroll painting: sketching proportions, preparing canvas, mixing mineral pigments, and applying flat washes of colour.
Buddhist Sculpture
Explore the lost-wax casting process from clay model to polished bronze. Study iconometric measurement and traditional finishing techniques.
Tibetan Calligraphy
Master the Uchen and Umé scripts using traditional bamboo pens and handmade ink. Produce prayers, poetry, and sacred texts with flowing elegance.
Traditional Weaving
Sit at a back-strap loom and learn to weave the geometric patterns of Tibetan khata, aprons, and decorative fabric using natural-dyed wool.
"A thangka is not painted — it is revealed. The pigments simply uncover what was always there."
Featured Artist
Tenzin Norbu
Master Thangka Painter · Karma Gadri Lineage
Born in Lhasa in 1962 and trained from age nine under the tutelage of his uncle — a renowned monk-painter in Drepung Monastery — Tenzin Norbu is one of the foremost living practitioners of the Karma Gadri thangka tradition. He arrived in Dharamsala in 1987 and co-founded Vermillion Arts in 2008 with the conviction that traditional Tibetan arts should remain a living practice, not a museum artefact.
Tenzin's thangkas have been exhibited in London, New York, Tokyo, and Brussels, and form part of permanent collections at the Rubin Museum of Art and the Tibet Heritage Fund. He teaches the advanced thangka programme at Vermillion Arts and accepts private students by application.
35+ Years of practice
400+ Thangkas completed
12 Countries exhibited
Our Community
More than a School
Vermillion Arts is a gathering place for everyone who loves Tibetan culture — students, artists, researchers, and curious visitors from around the world.
Open Studios
Every Saturday, our studios are open to visitors, practitioners, and curious passers-by. Watch artists at work, ask questions, and pick up a brush yourself.
Research Library
Our archive holds over 2,000 volumes on Tibetan art, iconography, and cultural history, plus rare photographs and pattern books accessible to enrolled students.
Artist Residencies
International artists join our two-month residency programme each spring and autumn, bringing cross-cultural dialogue and fresh perspectives to Tibetan art.