Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

Participants will:

• consider expression that is abstract rather than representational

• explore use of ink and color

• compositional considerations

Some experience helpful but not required.

Participants will:

• explore the life and landscapes of Shen Zhou, a 15th century Chinese master painter, and Shi Tao, a 17th century Chinese master painter.

• work traditionally combining demonstration and copying models

• focus both on techniques and style

• experience the meditative power of the brush, ink and paper

focused on copying Hakuin’s Blind Men Crossing the Bridge

Some experience helpful but not required

Participants will:

• explore the simple meditative and artistic complexities in Blind Men Crossing the Bridge by Hakuin

• 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

learn to paint ensō & other one-stroke paintings and some zen calligraphy

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

Participants will:

• explore zen Buddhist simplicity

of creating an entire painting with just one stroke

• use traditional Chinese brush and ink, create enso (a circle)

• 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.

Here’s your opportunity to learn all the stages of working with gold leaf:

(limit 4 students)

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

Participants will:

• prepping birch board with gesso

• applying glue and laying down the sheets of gold leaf

• sealing the gold leaf

• and then actually create paintings on it.

All materials (birch boards, gesso, glue, gold leaf, acrylic paint) will be provided.

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

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

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

Participants will:

• learn setting up a basic Chinese color palette

• experiment with building layers of color

• paint a simple landscape using color.

Yes, you can learn how to paint an entire landscape in one brush stroke

Some experience helpful but not required.

Limited to 4 participants

Participants will:

• experiment with variations in loading the brush with multiple colors

• practice slow brush work

• exercise in being present to the brush, ink and paper

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

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

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

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

Spend a day learning how to load a brush to create an entire landscape in one stroke.

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 the use of minimal strokes for greater effect

• have more fun than a litter of baby kittens

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

Participants will:

• explore structures of various fall flowers

• learn sequence in creating black-eyed susans, mums, lily and coneflower

• learn some techniques for color mixing and loading brush

Previous experience helpful not required. Beginners welcome.

Participants will:

• explore structures of various spring flowers

• learn sequence in creating a variety of spring flowers:

crocus, tulips, daffodil and more

• learn some techniques for color mixing and loading brush

Some experience helpful but not required.

Participants will:

• learn the practice of painting negative space

• learn techniques for building layers of ink and wash

• learn the building the structure of pine tree

• learn variations on painting pine needles

• experiment with several methods of painting snow

• create a complete snow covered landscape

Some experience helpful but not required.

Participants will:

• learn the practice of painting negative space

• learn techniques for building layers of ink and wash

• learn the practice of building the structure of pine tree

• learn variations on painting pine needles

• learn what makes a big pine big

• create a complete pine tree

Some experience helpful but not required.

Participants will:

• consider what is involved in converting a photo into a brush painting

• explore four different “lake” effects

• undercurrents & a little sparkle

• hidden horizon

• horizon glow

• shimmering water

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

Some experience helpful but not required.

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.

Some experience helpful.

Participants will:

• bring a favorite photo they wish to paint

• be guided through a process to analyze, sketch and plan

how to create a painting from a photograph

• using traditional Chinese brush painting materials: ink, Chinese watercolor, xuan paper and brush