As a western female student of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism and eastern tantric symbolism for many years, the artist, padma, Phyllis Glanville, brings a unique expression to an age-old tradition of sacred art.

While studying design at UCLA, Padma was drawn to various mystical traditions, especially the Eastern philosophies. She developed an interest in sacred art, sacred geometry and architecture, feng shui and the healing effects of sound and color.

    Upon encountering the tantric teachings of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism and Dzogchen, she felt that she had come home, and soon  became a student of a Nyingma lama from old Tibet. It was he who gave her the name of Padma, which means Lotus.

    During her spiritual journey, she has spent long-term residences at Buddhist retreat centers in
Northern California, spending many hours studying and working with various teachers. Padma
was involved in the design and building of the temple at Rigdzin Ling in the Trinity Alps. She organized and took part in retreats, learning ritual ceremonies, visualizations, mantras and mudras.

    Padma also sewed traditional lama dance costumes from rare silk brocades, some with real golden thread running through. The vivid colors of Tibetan life had a profound effect on her. During this period she met lamas and thangka artists from all over the world and absorbed as much traditional wisdom as she could.

The current phase of her Dharma art began in 1990 while living in majestic Mt. Shasta. California. It was there that she was first inspired to draw tantric deities. Of this work she says:


    Padma currently lives in Northern California and makers her living as a designer doing graphic and interior design. Her artistic intention is concentrated upon the creation of new paintings and various other creative projects.

The October Gallery, London, England Maha Deva Gallery, San Anselmo, California California Institute of Integral Arts, San Francisco Original Paintings & Museum-Quality Giclee Prints on Canvas Available

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