Visualize a brush loaded with ink, just above a blank canvas. One slow exhale and the brush meets paper. One line, deep and forceful, shines out like lightning in a summer storm. That's what makes learning ink painting so exciting. You can't press undo. You meet the chaos of water head-on.
Honestly, ink doesn’t follow rules. useful reference
It seeps, spreads, and pools unpredictably. It’s often labeled difficult. My previous class of artists dubbed it "adventurous". A random blot became a gnarled old tree in a classmate’s piece, with branches growing out of a puddle. We all cheered in our heads. Let go of control, and mistakes become masterpieces.
Classes dive straight into ink-splattered action. You will start by using different instruments, such as bamboo brushes, sticks, or even a piece of rope dipped in black. Each one pulls its own personality onto the page. The teacher might say, "Water is hard..." Your teacher may warn: “Water's not easy”, "You paint fog if you put in too much..." “Too much water, it disappears; too little, it yells”. It's true that every drop conveys a tale.
Some days, it's all about being in charge—steady hands and thin lines. On other days, you'll splash and see the ink flow across the paper like it has a secret mission. Seeing how ink and water mix can lead to surprising results. Someone in class laughed after seeing her square cat turn into what seemed like an abstract pancake. I don't know what else could be art.
Experimentation starts quickly with ink washes. Dark black, soft gray, and every shade of gray in between. Why settle?. Ink doesn’t mean only black. Try adding a bit of gold or red. Suddenly, the painting has a voice.
Group feedback is part of the class, but you relax into it. No one cares whether your fish gets away or if the sun comes out by accident. "Did you mean for your mountain to look like a wave?" is a question that comes up when people see strange things Who knows? And that’s what makes it art.
What’s most addicting? It’s the thrill of not knowing what will happen. Even accidents become features—like a coffee drop that becomes a bird. Mistakes aren’t punished—they’re celebrated in ink. Loosen your grip. Enjoy every splash. Every lesson is a new adventure, like a blank slate.
So get your brush. Give in to the ink. No telling what beautiful mess you’ll make next