As part of learning to dance, ink painting is a bit like dancing. At first, it's awkward. You are attempting to manage the brush, to make it move in a flowing movement and with a kind of swiftness, each time you are stepping on your toes. But when you get the feel of it, something beautiful occurs. The brush begins to seem a part of your hand. It is not a tool anymore, it is a partner. And every time you get a new class, you begin to learn to play with the rhythms of ink, you slowly discover your own way. Step into the world of flowing ink and discover your artistic side.
There is no ideal set of instructions in taking an ink painting course. It is about trying things and failing and learning to love the failures. Of course there are fundamental rules, brush strokes, ink density, and knowing the paper, but it is a matter of mixing all these elements that makes the art yours. It is not as simple as following the rules, as ink painting requires you to plunge into trial and error. The unexpected splashes and smudges of using ink result in some of the best pieces. The medium itself is almost talking to you, and telling you the next step to take.
The best thing about ink painting is that it is not restricted to a single way. The practice is free. You do not need to adhere to a rigid tradition or a process. We can have the classics of course, but you can escape, too, and dare. There are individuals who emphasize on the fragility of floral patterns and on abstractions. It is as though you are sketching out a map of your own thoughts and feelings, no rules or restrictions, just expression. And when you are not feeling it one day, you need not worry. Ink has a way of forgiving you. It will wait until you come and try tomorrow.
The virtue of ink painting is not a matter of technique; rather it is a matter of being in touch with the process. It's a meditative form of art. You lose yourself in the simplicity of the brushstroke, in the odour of the ink, in the lapses between one stroke and another. It is such a calmness of not thinking about the future, but letting your hand do its thing. Every work of yours is a little tale about who you become at a certain moment, a reflection of your mood, what you think, what power you have.
Have you ever wondered what ink painting is all about, there is no better time to take the plunge and grab your brush, and make a few crude strokes and leave the rest to the ink. It may require some practice, but the happiness of watching your creation will make you want to do it again. Forget about perfection. Take the flight, one stroke at a time.