About this course
The Four Noble Ones is a comprehensive foundation course which provides students with an in-depth learning experience in Japanese ink painting. This course will give you the opportunity to develop your skill-set while gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation for the traditional process of ink painting.
In this course, you’ll learn how to paint wild orchids, bamboo, chrysanthemum, and plum blossom. This array of subjects allowing for an extensive study. Throughout the course, you will experiment with using ink, colour and a range of compositions to create your own ink paintings.
In this course, you will:
Learn how to prepare your work-space
Learn how to hold the brush and make your own ink
Exercise the brush to make fluent lines
Practice Japanese calligraphy
Learn step-by-step how to paint wild orchids, bamboo, chrysanthemum and plum-blossom
Use Japanese watercolours
Create your very own beautiful ink paintings
Deepen your experience of the meditative nature of ink painting
The course also includes:
Tools and materials check-list
Downloadable PDF worksheet to accompany each lesson
Additional compositions for you to practice in your own time
Upon completion of your foundation course you will become confident with using the Japanese brush, ink and paper, ready to paint many other beautiful subjects. You will understand and appreciate the value of this practice within the tradition of Japanese art history, and will find it an open gate for your own creative journey.
This course is for you if:
You want to learn the foundation of how to create beautiful ink painting using traditional Japanese brushes, ink and paper.
You may not have previous experience, but are excited to explore and learn a new way of painting.
You love the way of Japanese ink painting and wish to practice further, explore and develop your skills and abilities.
GALLERY
Highlights of what you will paint




INSTRUCTOR
Meet your teacher
Talia Lehavi is an artist, a practitioner and a teacher of traditional Japanese ink painting. Following years of teaching, her love and passion for this artistic medium has now prompted her to create ArtBrush - online school for the studies of Japanese ink painting. The school is designed for students of all levels, from around the world, who are excited to learn, explore and discover the joy of ink painting and its many facets.

TESTIMONIALS
What our students say about their experience

Talia’s ArtBrush online school guides its students onto a soulful journey into the realms of traditional Japanese ink painting. It is a unique combination between the disciplined perfection of the inner discourse of the hand, brush and ink, with an opportunity for new horizons as well as deep and spontaneous individual insights.
— Tsipi W. Art Historian

As a beginner in Japanese Ink Painting, Talia's approach to teaching made me feel completely comfortable. I have learnt so much about the history, processes and application of Ink Painting and cannot wait to continue pursuing my newfound skill set even further. I would recommend ArtBrush to everyone, no matter of capability, it's a truly unique school which allows for dedicated and encouraging learning.
— Holly G. Artist

Very detailed and informative course ! I have always been an admirer of Asian traditional painting and this course provided me of an insider's look of this magic world. With the help of Talia and the ARTBRUSH online courses, I have managed to learn, exercise and master special brushwork techniques otherwise unaccesible to me. I also got an overall understanding of the aesthetics around this beautiful world of ink painting.
I totally recommend this!
— Olympia T. Artist & Writer
CONTENT
Included in this course
Welcome introduction
Welcome to ArtBrush (2:21)
Learning Japanese ink painting - introduction
Your workspace (1:54)
Tools & materials - The four treasures (5:09)
Making ink & How to hold the brush (3:21)
Your check list (1:03)
Tools and materials sources
The Four Noble Ones - introduction
4 Essential Japanese Ink Painting Tutorials
About the Four Noble Ones (1:18)
Structure of lessons on the course (2:00)
Wild Orchids 蘭 'ran'
Introduction on painting wild orchids (1:40)
Brush practice - 'thin - thick - thin' (2:28)
Painting wild orchid leaves (1:31)
Calligraphy practice -HEART 心 'shin/kokoro' (3:19)
Painting wild orchid flowers (4:36)
Common mistakes (3:15)
Create your own painting - Composition I (3:47)
Wild orchid flower stem (3:06)
Group of wild orchid leaves (3:52)
Create your own painting - Composition II - Ink & colour (7:38)
Wild orchid colour flower stem (10:20)
Soul meditation - Elegance (0:29)
Create your own painting - Composition III - Colour (5:28)
Wild orchids - Outro (0:45)
Bonus Section - 3 additional compositions for you to practice in your own time
Bamboo 竹 'take'
Promo (0:40)
Introduction on painting bamboo (1:18)
Brush practice - 'thin- thick -thin' (2:56)
Painting bamboo leaves (3:02)
Painting bamboo branches (6:09)
Brush lines practice - 'pause - move - pause' (1:34)
Calligraphy practice - ONE 一 'ichi' (1:34)
Painting bamboo stems and knots (1:32)
Create your own painting - Composition I (2:55)
Playful ink technique (2:07)
Soul meditation - Emptiness (0:56)
Create your own painting - Composition II (3:59)
Bamboo - Outro (0:55)
Bonus Section - 3 additional compositions for you to practice in your own time
Chrysanthemum - Yellow Empress 菊 'kiku'
Introduction on painting chrysanthemum (1:53)
Calligraphy practice - CENTRE 中 'chu/naka' (2:10)
Brush practice - 'pause - move - pause' (1:27)
Painting chrysanthemum leaves (5:45)
Painting chrysanthemum buds and flowers (5:48)
Create your own painting - Composition I (6:13)
Painting flowers in 'boneless' style (3:55)
Soul meditation - Strength (0:45)
Create your own painting - Colour composition II (5:09)
Chrysanthemum - Outro (1:17)
Bonus I - Three additional compositions for you to practice in your own time
Bonus II - Hokusai chrysanthemum designs from his manual
Bonus III - Details of chrysanthemum from an 18th C. Japanase folding screen
Bonus IV - Chrysanthemum by the Stream
Plum Blossom 梅の花 'ume no hana'
Introduction on painting plum blossom (1:41)
Brush practice - 'deer antlers' (1:25)
Fine twigs (1:36)
Painting blossoms 'line stroke' style (5:44)
Creating your own painting - Simple composition I (7:54)
Brush practice - plum twigs (2:03)
Brush practice - plum branches (5:10)
Plum branches and colour blossoms 'boneless' style (5:10)
Create your own painting - Composition II - Ink and colour (3:13)
Soul meditation - The nature of a breathing line (0:26)
Create your own painting - Composition III - Ink and colour (6:12)
Xtra - Painting plum blossom - principles and symbology
Plum blossom - Outro (1:23)
Bonus I - Three additional compositions for you to practice in your own time
Bonus II - Plum blossom haiku