The content of most thangkas is usually images of Buddha or a reflection of lift stories of eminent monks and folk customs. The painting methods utilize mainly bright colors and line drawings.

Norbu explained that all of the pigments are made from natural minerals. For example, the golden color is produced from gold and the green color is from turquoise. It could spend months to make these pigments with strict procedure by hand. And the colors will not fade, even for hundred years.

Norbu's students practice painting thangka in the art center, nearby Potala Palace. [CnDG]

"It will take half a year, even a whole year to complete an exquisite thangka."

"I would hold breath to draw every stroke in the most delicate part of the painting. It needs complete concentration and you cannot make any mistakes at all," he said proudly.

Urgent task to cultivate more young painters

At present, Norbu runs a thangka art center at the foot of Yaowangshan Mountain, nearby Potala Palace. He recruited children from Tibetan rural areas aged from nine to 12. Then he trained them how to paint thangka from the basic line drawing to complicated layout.

He has 18 students right now; the oldest one has graduated and helps him to manage the art center.

A Budda thangka painted by Norbu Sida. All of the golden colors were made from pure gold powder. [CnDG]

At the mention of his funding source, he explained that the money to maintain the daily operation of the art center and his students' spending were all supplied from his earnings selling his paintings.