Female Buddhas: Tara
Green Tara embodies the activity of awakened compassion. She's both popular and accessible. It's not surprising that I've had more commissions to paint Tara than for any other bodhisattva. She is unique in belonging to, not one, but two Buddha families. She appears as a female Buddha, consort to Amoghasiddhi in the Karma family and as a Bodhisattva in Amitabha's Padma (lotus) family.
Tara (1997) 
Detail from large painting of Avalokitesvara’s Tears
Acrylic on canvas
Prints and cards for sale here
Most of hese paintings keep Tara's traditional gestures. For example one leg steps down into the world and the other leg is placed in meditation posture. One hand stretches out in the mudra of generosity and the other is lifted in a gesture signifying fearlessness. Although tradition is honoured and included in the work, the handling of paint and the formal visual language reference European art influences. They are inspired by, but do not reproduce the Indo Tibetan style of Buddhist icon.
These forms are offered in the hope that they make a contribution to the ongoing translation of the Dharma into forms that are useful for Western practitioners.
Aryatara (2019) 
Commission
Acrylic on Canvas
The next image is an experimental depiction of Tara which emerged out of a drawing inspired by a medieval wood block print. It also has echoes of ancient Indian miniatures of goddesses.
Tara in Meadow with Trees (2020) 
Medieval inspiration
Digital iPad drawing
Tara (1999) 
Commission
Gouache on paper
See a detailed close up
Tara (2005) 
Detail of commission
Oil on canvas
Aryatara (2005) 
Study for commission
Acrylic on canvas
Tara (2005) 
Acrylic on board
30cm x 40cm
