
September Featured Artist:
Laura Santi, Thangka Painter
Laura Santi is a painter of Tibetan and Nepali traditional style thangkas. She has studied Kundalini Yoga meditation for 30 years and is also an initiate in various practices in the Nyingma order of Buddhism.
Laura graduated with an education in graphic design from the University of Cincinnati in 1981, where the emphasis at that time of design done pre-computer, was Swiss-style clean-lined composition, form, and typography as art. She originally attended college with the idea of becoming a medical illustrator, but fell in love with the field of design and began her working life there. Later after poor health left her intrigued by alternative healthcare, Swami Chetanananda suggested the possibility of a career in acupuncture, and so she left the art world and received a certificate in acupuncture from the New England School of Acupuncture in 1991, and currently maintains a private practice in 5 Element, Japanese and Chinese style acupuncture care.
She received training from Swami Chetanananda in this painting style in 2001. Her knowledge of thangka iconographic imagery and techniques comes from her spiritual teachers, Swami Chetanananda and Lama Tsering Wangdu Rimpoche. She is currently working on a thangka illustrating the sacred dance of cham. She is available for commissions.