Chinese Ink Painting Workshop: Lotus and Kingfisher – Purity and Harmony of Mind

The workshop takes place on four Mondays in January.

Workshop content

The mind is pure, unstained and sinless by nature – this is what Buddha taught. In Chinese culture, which has been deeply influenced by Buddhism, the lotus symbolises purity and clarity of mind. Although the lotus grows in muddy and murky water, its flowers remain impeccably clean and unstained. In the same way, the essence of our mind remains untouched and pure, despite worries, anxiety, dissatisfaction, greed and so on.

In this workshop, we will learn to paint the lotus using traditional Chinese ink-painting techniques and discover how the brushstrokes, rhythm and symbolism of the flower can help develop concentration, inner peace and clarity of mind. While painting, we will practise various brush techniques and experience how the creative process can become a quiet meditation. We will observe the purity and radiance of our minds.

1st session – Lotus leaves and stems
We will become familiar with the basic brushstrokes of Chinese flower painting. We will practise using wet and dry brushes, transitions between tones and creating ink washes.

2nd session – Lotus flowers: a symbol of purity of mind
We will learn to paint closed, open and resting flowers, seed pods, and create a balanced composition. We will practise modelling petals in the “gongbi” style. We will learn to use colour delicately and to combine the flowers with the leaves learned in the previous session.

3rd session – Kingfisher
We will learn about the bird’s anatomy and proportions. We will practise painting the head, beak, eyes, wings and tail, and create lively poses with simple brushstrokes. We will become familiar with various brush techniques for depicting plumage.

4th session – Painting several different compositions
We will focus on layering colours, the texture of feathers and dynamic poses. We will paint the kingfisher together with the lotus and learn to combine the bird and the background into one harmonious whole.

Materials
All materials are available at the venue. If you would like to use your own materials, you will need:
1. one medium wolf-hair brush
2. two medium goat-hair brushes
3. one small gongbi brush
4. waterproof Chinese ink
5. waterproof Chinese ink-painting colours

A materials set can be purchased from the instructor for €55 (4 brushes, ink, water paper, brush and ink stands, rice paper, pigment colours).

Who is it for?
The course is intended for beginners who have little or no previous experience with this kind of art. It is also suitable for those seeking a meditation-like creative experience to support peace of mind and rest while creating an aesthetic experience.

Instructor
Kristiina Kraft is a painter by education. She graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2002 and then lived in China for five years, where she studied Chinese calligraphy and traditional ink painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing under the guidance of renowned masters. Since 2014, Kristiina has been studying mind-training and vitality practices under the guidance of a Tibetan meditation master.

Duration: 9.3 academic hours
Number of places: 12 people.