Ideal for beginners and creatives interested to learn ink painting techniques, this course will introduce you to the main principles of ink painting. You will learn the central role of water to compose a balanced artwork with great texture effects! You will discover ‘wet on wet’ and ‘wet on dry’ techniques, and will experiment with composition, various texture rendering techniques and silhouette painting to add depth and value to your art.

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This course is designed to lead you step by step through abstract ink painting processes. Each session gives you different options to explore so in the end you will create your very own, personal art work(s).

Class Outline:

Material Needed

1. A3 watercolour paper

2. Water and ink containers

3. One small sable brush number 0 or 2

4. One or two medium sable or calligraphy brushes number 3 or 4

5. One large flat goat hair brush

6. Indian Ink

7. Paper towel and rag

8. Salt and a candle

Learn your tools: Discover what tools I use in my work... you will be surprised how basic it is!

Warm Up with Jasper Johns: This is a gentle exercise to learn the importance of water in abstract ink painting. It will also get you ready (and excited!) for learning composition structures.

Composition for an impactful artwork: Play with one or up to four different compositions, using ink, washes and water. The options are endless... your imagination is the limit!

Background effects: Have fun with these stunning and yet easy to achieve effects, there is no right or wrong.

Silhouettes: Be inspired by my all time favourite artist: Gao Xing Jian. Learn how he creates silhouettes and invent your own in this easy step by step tutorial.In parallel, create your very own background and add these silhouettes to give life to your masterpiece.

Each class builds on the skills learnt in the previous sessions. When you reach "Silhouettes with Gao Xing Jian" you will put together everything you have learnt and create your very own abstract ink painting with silhouette. Share it here for everyone to enjoy, or on your social media and remember to tag me @sofiedieu ... I am very much looking forward admiring your masterpiece!