Find Your Zen in the Heart of NYC: Master the Art of Mindful Brushwork
Escape the frantic pace of the city and step into a world of ink, paper, and tranquility.
Sumi-e (Japanese ink painting) is more than just an art form—it is a moving meditation. In this class, we don't just paint what we see; we capture the "spirit" of the subject.
Using the fewest possible strokes, you’ll learn to express your own personality and find a rare moment of stillness in your busy week.
No Experience? No Problem.
Whether you haven't picked up a brush since elementary school or you’re a seasoned artist looking for a new medium, this workshop is designed for everyone.
All-Inclusive: We provide everything you need. Just bring yourself.
Mindful Creation: Focus on the rhythm of your breath and the movement of your hand. Walk away with a sense of calm and your own handmade masterpiece.
Themes:
- Orchid - All students will start from the basics of ink-wash painting, such as how to hold a brush. All materials such as ink, brushes, calligraphy paper, etc. will be provided for the students.
- Lucy Cat - The theme for this class is Lucy Cat, a playful lucky-cat portrait painted with sumi ink. Students will learn how a few confident brushstrokes, soft washes, and expressive lines can bring out the cat’s curious face, fluffy fur, and beckoning paws. This fresh and charming theme is a fun way to experience traditional Sumi-e techniques while creating a piece with plenty of personality.
- Red Spider Lily - The theme for this class is the Red Spider Lily (higanbana), the flower that marks the arrival of autumn in Japan. Students will learn to capture its dramatic, radiating petals and slender stems with the sweeping, confident brushstrokes that sumi-e is known for. Blooming along riverbanks and field paths each September, the higanbana is a striking subject for practicing control of ink density and brush pressure.
- Chrysanthemum - The theme for this class is the Chrysanthemum (kiku), one of the most beloved subjects in Japanese ink painting and a symbol of autumn and longevity. Students will learn to build the flower’s layered petals with soft, graded washes, then finish with the darker, decisive strokes of the leaves and stem. It is an ideal subject for practicing the balance of light and dark that gives sumi-e its depth.
- Bamboo (Four Noble Ones) - The theme for this class is Bamboo (take), one of the Four Noble Ones (shikunshi) along with the orchid, chrysanthemum, and plum blossom. For centuries these four plants have been the foundation of ink painting practice in East Asia, and bamboo, evergreen and able to bend in the wind without breaking, is cherished as a symbol of resilience and integrity. Students will learn to paint the jointed stalk with steady, confident strokes, mark the nodes, and finish with clusters of leaves in dark and light ink that capture the movement of the wind.
- Asian Dragon - The theme for this class is the Asian Dragon (ryū), one of the most powerful subjects in East Asian ink painting. Unlike the fire-breathing dragons of Western legend, the dragon of Japan and its neighbors is a guardian spirit of water and sky, associated with rain, clouds, and good fortune, and it has been painted on temple ceilings and folding screens for centuries. Students will learn to capture the dragon’s energy with bold, sweeping brushstrokes, from its expressive face to its coiling body and claws, exploring the full range of sumi-e from dark, decisive lines to soft gradations of gray.
All students will start from the basics of ink-wash painting, such as how to hold a brush. All materials such as ink, brushes, calligraphy paper, etc. will be provided for the students.
