Curious about Asian brush painting?

Seen the Chinese landscape paintings at the Art Institute and wondered how the are done?

Want to experience the calm meditative quality of practicing brushwork?

click here to download current class schedule

Class offerings include:

Chinese calligraphy & landscape painting

Participants will:
• learn the practice of grinding ink/loading brush
• practice the immediacy of putting ink to paper
• explore the discipline of brush painting
• feel the joy of working with these ancient materials

Weekly classes

Each class includes instructor demonstration, discussion, and exercises. Students will take home models for practice and individual exploration. Typical class is one hour of Chinese calligraphy, one hour of landscape painting.
(Class size limited to 10 students)

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

click here to download current class schedule

• see upcoming workshops/events

One-day intensive workshops

(offered seasonally or by arrangement)
These are 4-hour workshops focused on introducing the participant to Chinese brush painting, or specific topics within that tradition.

Introduction to Chinese brush painting intensive
(all levels)

Participants will:
• learn the practice of grinding ink/loading brush
• practice the immediacy of putting ink to paper
• explore the discipline of brush painting including basic calligraphy strokes,
painting rocks, trees, pine and mountains
• feel the joy of working with these ancient materials

Strengthening brush skills with Seal Script Intensive

Participants will:
• learn basic forms of seal script
• exercise their control of brush for stronger strokes
• experience the challenge of this ancient form that predates the invention of the brush.

Painting Water / Mists Intensive

(some experience helpful but not required)

Participants will:
• learn the practice of ink accumulation as it relates to creating water and mists in brush painting
• learn to work both in wet-on-dry and wet-on-wet
• experiment with a variety of techniques to create water

One-stroke / Splash painting intensive

Participants will:
• learn techniques for loading mutliple colors of ink
• learn techniques for painting with multiple inks in one brush stroke
• experiment with a variety of sizes of brushes, including “mops”
• create large scale splash paintings

Painting pines intensive
(some experience helpful)

Participants will:
• learn the practice of building the structure of pine tree
• learn variations on painting pine needles
• learn what makes a big pine big
• sharpen your skills of observation
• refine your skill in handling the brush

Painting snow intensive
(some experience helpful)

Participants will:
• learn the practice of painting negative space
• learn techniques for building layers of ink and wash
• experiment with several methods of painting snow
• create a complete snow covered landscape

Bring a willingness to have a serious adventure while having a lot of fun

Painting cute little baby animals intensive

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

Participants will:
• explore the use of simple line and wash to create
adorably cute paintings of animals and insects
(note: simple ≠ easy)
• learn to handle use of minimal strokes for greater effect
• have more fun than a barrel of monkeys even though
it’s the Year of the Rooster!

Ensō & other zen painting intensive
the zen of brush painting

learn to paint ensō & other one-stroke paintings

Participants will:
• explore zen Buddhist simplicity of creating an entire painting with just one stroke
• use traditional Chinese brush and ink, create enso (a circles)
• learn techniques for painting with multiple tones or inks in one brush stroke
• practice simple zen calligraphy in Chinese and experiment with large brushes to create large scale paintings.

Painting “blind men crossing the bridge” intensive

a painting/meditation workshop focused on copying
Hakuin’s Blind Men Crossing the Bridge
Participants will:
• explore the simple meditative and artistic complexities in Blind Men Crossing the Bridge by Hakuin, a 7th century Japanese Buddhist teacher
• work traditionally combining demonstration and copying models
• create their own version of this zen masterpiece
• experience the meditative power of working with the brush, ink and paper

Painting the animals of the Chinese zodiac Intensive

Participants will:
• learn to paint all 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.
• learn the corresponding Chinese characters for each animal
• sharpen skills of handling ink and brush
• have a ridiculous amount of fun doing it

• see upcoming workshops/events

Chinese painting for parent and child
(offered by arrangement)

Opportunity for a child and a parent to explore together the traditions of Chinese landscape painting. Classes will include learning to grind ink, use brush and paper, learn basic forms (rock, tree, mountain), and have fun in the process. Some basics of Chinese calligraphy will be covered. Appropriate for children 6+.
(Class size limited to 8 students)

click here to download current class schedule

Brush painting events

Bob also provides the opportunity for brush painting at special events, workshops, and school residencies.

Bob participates in Target Family Days at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. These drop-in workshops provide 32 stations for calligraphy and painting with 3000-5000 participants over 7-hours.

Sometimes involving participants to paint the great river.