This Ink Painting Class Astounded Me—Check Out My Work!

I’ll admit it: I had the impression that top-rated ink art tutorials was some sort of carefree, perhaps untidy pastime using just paper, a brush, and haphazard squiggles. Yeah, I was completely incorrect. I was completely engrossed in my first ink lesson after only one week. The calming and seductive sensation of smearing black paint over rice paper was completely unexpected. Everyone fell silent. My fidgety dog remained motionless as well.

On the very first day, the teacher waved his brush about like a magician’s wand. He advised releasing the grip on the wrist. My wrist became numb and my initial attempts at imitating him looked like they belonged on a toddler’s wall, but I tried nevertheless. A chuckle escaped my lips. Making a mistake was acceptable. My shaky woods and failed mountains started to take form soon. I began to notice a pattern as the ink-stained mistakes continued. As if the brush were making its own decisions, the process seemed to come to life.

We tried out quick, voracious strokes. At a later time, our instructor demonstrated how to work more slowly, drawing the brush lightly across the paper. The ink can bleed profusely at times. It can be as pointed as a cat’s whisker at times. Being a little bit out of control can be exciting. Another source of frustration is when a drop lands in an unexpected spot. My “oops” became a cloud, stone, or bush, and I learned to laugh it off. Surprisingly, it was accidents that led to my most satisfying work.

In our third meeting, I managed to paint a crab darting across a pond. Despite his crooked shell, his legs appeared to be in the correct place. Winding and vaguely surreal, my next piece depicted a bamboo jungle. Which one is my favorite? My clumsy fingers and an unintentional coffee ring produced an abstract mountain range. Even though they say art shows your thinking, I found that ink drawing allowed my mind to soar, stumble, and leap.

Ink painting could be a pleasant surprise if you’re looking to control your brushstrokes or try something new. It’s kinder than you may think. In the beginning, most of my students squinted because they didn’t understand. After a few practices, you may think they’re seasoned pros, gracefully releasing lightning bolts and herons. Along with improved brushwork, I made some new friends and learned a new method to express myself on paper.

It’s guaranteed that you will become dirty. But if you give way to your playfulness, you’ll savor every second. The last piece of advise my teacher ever gave me was, “Don’t be precious.” Go all out. Framed on my kitchen wall are my coffee-ring mountains—a constant reminder that art isn’t about perfection—that I look at every day. A lot of trial and error is involved, but there are also moments of pure magic. You never know where the ink will take you if you give it a go.