Himapan Founder Tristan de Terves’s career has taken him from Paris to New York. But it is his birthplace, Thailand, that has inspired his most recent passion. While visiting Bangkok, Tristan fell in love with traditional lotus painting. He sought out native artists to understand and master their techniques. Today, he passes that knowledge on to students in his Brooklyn gallery, Himapan NYC. Read on to learn more about the art of lotus-leaf painting.

The Materials

Students receive paintbrushes and sponges, protective aprons, and boldly colored acrylic paints. The most important material, however, is the canvas. Each is handmade in Thailand—fabric stretched over wooden bars then carefully hand covered with preserved lotus leaves. Rather than working on the emptiness of a conventional cotton or linen canvas, painters work with the complex texture of delicate, overlapping leaves. Each student receives a 40cm x 40cm lotus-leaf canvas to paint on.

The Class

Himapan NYC is located in Brooklyn. It welcomes both novice and experienced artists to its classes. The studio's instructors impart their knowledge of art history, color theory, yoga and mediation, and Thai culture during the 2.5-hour sessions as students paint their canvases in a variety of rich hues.

The Artwork

At the conclusion of each class, students take home three pivotal things: their beautiful paintings, a natural varnish to preserve their work, and a "warm reminder of [their] creative power."