Art as Meditation: The Creation of My Thangka

Ritualising the Process

Art has always been a form of expression for me, but I have come to realise it can also be a path to meditation, presence, and inner transformation. In creating my Thangka artwork, I am learning to bring total awareness into every line, every gesture, and every intention. The act of painting itself becomes a meditation-a sacred space where the work and I merge in presence.

I ritualise the process as a Buddhist monk would: I wash and clean my studio, light incense, and set spiritual intentions, infusing them into the piece. I treat every moment of creation as meditation-attaining full awareness and creating only from that space. Whenever my mind wanders, I gently return to presence.

This approach has slowed my process considerably, as each line is crafted with devotion. Yet this patience has brought a depth and quality to my work beyond anything I have achieved before. The presence within the work itself can be felt, and I hope it offers a healing message to the world, bringing others the same clarity and peace that the process brings to me.

Meditation and Focus

Meditation has become essential to my artistic practice. Creating large-scale, detailed artwork requires intense concentration, and meditation is the direct training of focus. In meditation, we bring our full attention to an object-such as the breath-returning it whenever it wanders, while remaining aware of our inner states and environment.

The parallels to art are clear: in creating, we focus fully on the artwork, returning to it whenever attention drifts, all while maintaining awareness of ourselves and our surroundings.

As my meditation deepens, so does my ability to focus on my work. I am discovering that art, like the breath, arises naturally when we do not interfere. When I allow the artwork to unfold and prioritise presence above all, the pen moves effortlessly, and the piece creates itself with clarity.

Letting Go of the “Doer”

The sense of being a “doer” was once an obstacle. It brought fear, anxiety, and the urge to rush, leaving traces of tension in the work. When I surrender to the greater energy moving through me, I become a channel for something larger-something that wants to express fully through my life.

I now realise that the state I inhabit while creating is infused into the artwork. Total peace and presence emanate from the piece if I am present while creating it, bringing not only resonance to the artwork but also healing, clarity, and inner harmony to myself.

Moments of Presence in the Artwork

One moment that stands out: when a wave of tiredness arises while creating, I used to identify with it and stop, thinking I needed a break. Now, I close my eyes and allow awareness to permeate the artwork. The fatigue fades into presence, and I can continue drawing with calm focus. This simple practice transforms what once felt like an obstacle into an invitation to deepen presence, letting the artwork guide me rather than my mind’s judgments.

Another practice that has deepened my presence is the conscious setting of intentions. I set the intention to do the best work I can for the highest good, and this intention influences every decision I make. I return to errors I would normally skip, correcting them so the work reaches the highest standard-but this is done without the harshness of perfectionism. The process becomes an act of devotion, not judgment, and every correction is infused with presence and care.

Through this practice, I am discovering that the state I inhabit while creating is not just in me - it flows into the artwork itself. Each line, each color, carries the peace, presence, and devotion of the moment. My hope is that this presence reaches you, offering a sense of calm, clarity, and connection, just as the creation of the work has offered me.

Jamie