Ari Tomita - Vancouver Artist - Oriental Brush Workshops

Ancient Brush Workshops - Introduction

Energy Dynamics: the Oriental Brush as an Expressionist Art Form

by Ari Tomita

Students in my workshops will experience the Oriental approach to time, space, anddynamic energy or “ ki “ (spirit, energy force),and will discover the rewards of painting with the ancient brush. They will learn to create Expressionist brush painting using the heart-mind and body connection to generate their own rhythm and harmony. The primary medium will be the long-haired brush (fude) and black Oriental ink (sumi). Oriental brushes are quite different from oil, acrylic, and watercolor brushes - they often behave like young colts that must be tamed and are like musical instruments that are mastered only with regular practice. In my workshops students will be challenged to learn brush techniques and develop their intuition and artistic skills.

Students will also acquire insight into the fundamental principles of yin yang cosmology and the foundations of Japanese aesthetics and composition. The latter inspired many of the Impressionist painters such as Van Gogh, Monet, and Cezanne. Ancient calligraphic brush art also influenced many abstract Expressionist painters including Franz Kline, Mark Toby, and Robert Motherwell. Click here to view Testimonials from Workshop Participants

Ari Tomita is an artist based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada