COURSE

The children follow a curriculum designed by experienced and veteran artists and craftsmen. The complete course is for six years. Both theory and practice are properly interrelated in the curriculum to provide an opportunity to develop the necessary skill and aptitude. We have skilled art teachers deployed to teach the children traditional arts and crafts and introduce further other subjects, such as math, English and Dzongkha are also taught at the basic level.

In the first two years, basic drawing and painting are emphasized. This provides the basis that will allow the students to continue in other crafts. All the students are expected to pass this course. From the third year onward, options for different skills such as: carving, sculpture and thangka painting are offered based on the children’s choice and aptitude.

The practical session and the exam at the end of the academic year are the main tests, which judge the students’ progress and thereby decide their promotion to the next higher class. Besides their class timetable, the school also focuses on the spiritual development of the students by including special prayer sessions every morning and evening.

Rimo Class


The Rimo (drawing) is the basic foundation of all the courses. All the specialized courses require basic knowledge of Rimo. During the first two years, students learn how to draw and paint all forms of the traditional arts of Bhutan. Click HERE to view a picture of Rimo.

Thanka (Scroll) Painting
The art of Painting is as old as the people themselves and it has been passed down from generation to generation, from a master painter, lharip to novice students. This profession, like most others, is considered an act of reverence and devotion and painters are believed to accumulate merit and influence their karma. Painters work on a wide range including painting simple motifs and the eight lucky signs to undertaking painting huge scrolls of Thangka and Thongdroel. These are paintings of images of Buddhist deities that are often painted on the wall, or in simple cloth. Thongdroels are bigger in size and a mere sight of these huge scrolls is believed to deliver us to nirvana. Thus, it brings merit not only to the believers but for the painters as well. A lharip can decorate a house, an altar; paint a Thangka or Thongdroel, the statues of deities or on any other article and piece that need painting. The materials used in Bhutanese painting are the natural pigmented soils that are found in most places in the country.

The students who successfully complete the Rimo course have the option of specializing in Thangka painting. Here the course takes an intermediate to advanced techniques of painting. Click HERE to view a picture of Thangka painting.

Patra (Carving) class

Carving in Bhutan has been experimented and perfected upon various materials like stone, wood and slate. Traditional Bhutanese designs carved on these materials create the most wonderful pieces of artwork. Since Bhutan has an abundant variety of wood, woodcarving is seen in many forms. Carved wooden masks of various shapes and sizes are used in religious dances; decorations are found engraved on house, Dzongs, palaces, temples and monasteries. Wooden symbols are found adorning altars and wooden containers like bowls and cups; wooden sheaths or scabbards and handles for knives and swords are all made of wood. The beautiful carved pillars and beams, printing blocks of wood and the altars are excellent examples of woodcarving. Wood carving was introduced in CTAS in 2002-2003 academic year. Here too, the students must have completed the Rimo classes. Click HERE to view a picture of Patra (Wood carving).

Jimzo (Sculpture) Class

Jimzo or Clay sculpture is one of the ancient crafts in Bhutan, which takes precedence over brass or other metal works. One of the most celebrated works of a Jim zo Lopen is the making of clay statues, papermache and clay masks, and other religious items. The clay statues made by Trulku Dzing during the time of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal are still found in many Dzongs and monasteries.

The other clay work found in Bhutan is the art of pottery. Traditionally, while the making of statues and other religious items is done by men, the art of pottery is associated with women. Click HERE to view a picture of Jimzo(Sculpture).