A Thangka studio on Barkor Street, the most renowned business block and cultural street in downtown Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region. [Photo/Internet]

Tseten Namgyal never thought that he could become a successful Thangka painter and merchant on Barkor Street, the most renowned business block and cultural street in downtown Lhasa, who quitted school and did various jobs at an early age.

As an inheritor of Manniang School Thangka, a main sect of the traditional Tibetan painting, Tseten Namgyal is well-known along the Barkor Street, teaching 9 apprentices in his bright and artistic studio. 

At present, Tseten Namgyal earns considerable annual income through painting sales.

The middle-aged businessman had dreamed to be a painter since childhood, though his way towards success was uneasy and tortuous.

Tseten Namgyal loved painting but had to quit school and work to relieve the family's financial burden at his teenage.

First working as a tractor driver, Tseten Namgyal often painted on the ground with a small stick during spare time, drawing his favorite paintings about animal and landscape.

To improve his painting skill, Tseten Namgyal once prepared to create a "great" work on a piece of wood board  with the colorful chalks he picked from a local school, but failed to achieve the effect that he imagined in his mind.

However, the failure didn't frustrate Tseten but gave him more impetus to insist on his painting dream.

Tseten felt himself closer to his dream a few years later when he left home and worked as a carpenter in Lhasa.

Driven by a deep interest, Tseten quickly became a painter specialized in decorative painting on furniture with rich colors.

In Lhasa, Tseten did well as a carpenter and furniture painter; later, he learned Thangka painting from a renowned painter to further improve his skills.

Tseten turned into a professional Thangka painter after continuous efforts, and improved himself much whenever he changed his occupation.

Tseten was the first few on the Barkor Street to sell Thangka by on-the-spot painting in his studio, a small shop opened in 1996 when he started his business with only two staffs.

"Thangka is a traditional Tibetan art, and I would like to show the tourists a clear process of making Thangka, although not many tourists came to Lhasa and Barkor Street at that time", said Tseten, who made his studio open for tourist to visit.

Many tourists became interested in Thangka through Tseten's direct show, and some of them ordered more Thangka paintings after returned home, said Tseten.
As for business skills, Tseten learned practical knack during his trips to U.S. and Nepal. 

"My success lies in not only good techniques in painting but also the insistence of honesty, equality and harmony in business", said Tseten.

"Honesty wins trust, equality gives fairness and harmony brings wealth", explained Tseten.
Now, Tseten not only improves his family's living condition but also subsidizes many poverty-stricken college students.

Some customers advised Tseten to open Thangka studios in inland cities, but he refused, saying "I don't want a busy life, which is not what I pursue".

Painting and selling Thangka where he has stayed for over 15 years is good enough for Tseten Namgyal. To him, everything is changing, but his affection for the Barkor Street and painting has never changed.