Shui-Mo Hua: The Art of Chinese Ink-Wash Painting

Shui-Mo Hua is a traditional Chinese ink wash painting style that emphasizes expressive brushwork and the spiritual essence of subjects rather than realistic depiction. In this course, we explore the foundations of East Asian ink painting through the Chinese tradition of Shui-Mo Hua, the original source of later Japanese Sumi-e, a Japanese ink painting technique, and Korean Sumukhwa, a Korean ink-wash painting technique. Through the expressive use of brush, ink, water, and rice paper, we learn the techniques, skills, and aesthetics of painting floral, animal, and landscape subjects while applying the principles of simplicity, balance, movement, and spirit.