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‘To those who awaits only the cherry blossoms, Let me point to the spring in grassy patches amid the snow of a mountain village’ Fujiwara no Taika This poem has been used to explain the very essence of wabi-sabi by Sen no Rikkyo, master artist of Japanese tea ceremony. Wabi-sabi as an aesthetic concept evolved with the tea ceremony in Japan by Sen no Rikkyo during the 16th century, yet it is rooted deep in Zen Buddhism already in the 12th century. Although strongly embedded in Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi as a concept is not always easy to define. It can however, be felt. This is perhaps its most clear element, the use of the senses for the aesthetic experience. While the 21st century is riding into a digitalisation of the senses, wabi-sabi takes us back to the touch and the taste, the sound and the fragrance of things, as well as their visual experience. To hold a tea cup with both hands and be touched by its textured material is the heart of the experience. While sipping tea, to feel the tongue sticking a little to the fired clay, these sensual feelings are woven into the ceramic beauty impact. In similar way to the tea ceremony, the ink artist takes a step back from the mundane daily world into their own rhythm, holding a raw ink stick and grinding it on an ink-stone to make ink. Feeling the rough texture of the stone and taking in the fragrance of the ink as it blends with water, the artist dip the brush to make that first brush stroke - this preparation time creates a unique intimacy of nearness to the natural materials. The love of the textured material and its simplicity, define wabi-sabi artistic aesthetic, where possible, keeping materials not fully processed, so one can still get a glimpse of their original state. The soot of which the ink is made of, kept its true nature for many years whilst being exposed to the elements. Be it fire or rain, heat or cold weather, it gifts the sense of humility and humbleness away from pretension and arrogance. The power of simplicity Wabi (侘び) carries the idea of elegant beauty that is reflected in simplicity itself. Simplicity that has its core in humbleness. A will to be with the essence of things and not their external cover up. ‘Get rid of the non essential’ - is the wabi-sabi artist most valuable instruction. The interaction of modest intelligence with a clean, efficient arrangement, allow wabi-sabi artists to keep with the integral component of its creation, and avoid unnecessary details. Ink painting will reveal just enough details for the viewer to identify the subject painted, but not more than necessary. The ink painting is intended to echo the very nature of its subject matter, not to copy it. Rustic beauty Sabi (寂び / 錆び) translated from Japanese, to mean ‘rust’. It suggests the nature of the ever-changing experiences and things that weathered, fade away or dissipate. It signifies not the ending of things, but actually the flow and continuity of the creative process. Sabi aesthetic does not find a need to ‘hide’ the ongoing ageing of the art created, on the contrary, the moss on the stone sculpture, the rustic wood pillar inside a home, or the ragged ink brush stroke on textured paper - are all part of cherishing the beauty of time passage. The way ink becomes even more distinct as the paper ages, turning yellow in time, is part of the magic celebrated by the aesthetic of sabi. This ever-changing state of materials far and beyond the artist work, emerges because of time throwing its magnitude flow upon everything. And while doing so, revealing a tranquil beauty within the greater creation and its ongoing powerful laws of transformation, extinction and reformation. Finding and enjoying the rustic beauty of this is the aesthetic of sabi. Cherishing the creative process Within the aesthetic of wabi-sabi , the creative process is exposed and emphasised. It is original in a moment in time, and thus a unique experience. The ink painting is not intended to be perfect. On the contrary, not the complete figure is painted, nor the whole landscape is seen. The painting will hold spaces and gaps ready to be completed with the viewer’s imagination. In ink painting, one can appreciate the aesthetics of wabi-sabi where the flow of the brush and ink emphasise the wellness experience of imperfection. It is imperfect because no hand can make a ‘perfected’ line in that sense. Each line and mark is raw and organic, rich in wonder and mystery, reflecting the nature of both artist and viewer at any given time. Wabi-sabi aesthetic practice in ink painting offers an intimate experience. It unfolds the feeling that even the minute and seemingly insignificant painted theme, can have an insight into the warmth and beauty of a growing and becoming creation. For an in-depth ink painting course you are invited to join ArtBrush Online Foundation course Sign up for a one-time payment of £220 > All paintings in this article are by Talia and can be viewed in GALLERY

Carving a personal seal was always considered one of the artist's / calligrapher's skills. The seal completes a painting and is an important part of it. Artists used to make their own seals as part of the creative expression and expertise. Having more than one seal to symbolise different periods in artistic progress was common. Brief historical background Seal carving has a fine history of over a thousand years in Japan. The tradition originated in China and is over two thousand years old. The ancient seal script, known as tensho in Japanese or zhuan-shu in Chinese, is still used in most seal carving today. In 221 BC the first emperor of China united the many states of the continent, and had a Jade seal made to represent sole heavenly authority over the land. This seal was passed on from one emperor to another as part of the ritual of power and control. During the 10th century upheavals, this legendary seal was lost, and from then on other seals were used throughout history by the rulers. The seal represents authority and authenticity of the author and writing. Used by emperors early on in history, it later became a tool for government officials and institutes, schools, teachers and scholars, as well as artists and collectors. With the development of paper, seals have become more important to confirm the writer and writing authenticity, be it official papers, poetry or painting. Materials and design Ancient seals were made of hard materials such as Jade, bronze, gold, silver and agate. Other less successful materials, in terms of longevity, were used, such as bones, amber, wax, clay, bamboo and wood. During the 14th C., soft stones became popular and an easy material to carve seals from. New styles and designs developed, and the craft of seal carving became an art form of its own. Poets, calligraphers and artists specialised in making seals and developing both design and technique. High quality seals have become sought after. They showed knowledge of scholarship and high aesthetics. Sourcing the right stone was important. The place where the stone came from connected the owner with that place. Therefore, ancient temples, well-known calligraphy centres, sacred mountains, and the like, were places from which seals stones were highly praised. The stone quality, like a small sculpture, would be selected according to its colour, texture, shine, and transparency. Seals would be cut into various sizes and the carved areas could be square, round, oval or a unique irregular shape. A high quality seal will have a good, precise and balanced contrast between the engraved white area of the seal and the red parts. The script could be engraved or a relief. Left: Engraving - ‘where there is a will there is a way’ Right: Relief carving - 'the years fly like an arrow - how alarming’ Content and aesthetic As the first purpose of the seal was to identify the owner, seals most commonly would have the name of the owner, their initial, chosen name, artist's name or birthdate. The birth year animal zodiac symbol was also popular. Artists seals were more sophisticated and, in particular, represented a personal philosophical idea, riddle, personal statement or sentiments. The seal and signature were considered part of the whole composition, and an integral part of the painting. Unique graphic script designs were developed, making the seal a ‘stone calligraphy’ work of art. Here are a few examples: Top left: ‘Fence’ script - ‘Who realises that books are immortals’ Top right: ‘Cloud’ script - ‘Long life of ten thousand years’ Bottom left: ‘Crooked’ script - ‘Prayer for longevity‘ Bottom right: ‘Crooked’ script - ‘To keep wealth and health always‘ Seal paste The red paste against the black ink creates a contrasting element which completes the artistic aesthetic. Traditionally, various colours have been used as seal’s paste. However, red paste has become the most popular. This paste was made of Cinnabar (mercury sulphide) mixed with seed oils and the moxa plant. Emperor seal’s paste, would have, particularly expensive mixed powdered materials, such as corals, pearls and rubies. How to use your seal Place the finished painting on a ‘semi’ soft surface, like felt. Carefully choose the area where you wish to seal the artwork, and place the seal evenly on the surface. Make sure to put even pressure on all parts of the seal. Keep pressing until you feel the seal is evenly marked on the paper. When you lift the seal, do so with an upward, firm movement to prevent smudging the paste on the paper. Allow the red paste to dry on the painting, or place a soft cloth to pick up any residues. Care for your seal After sealing the painting, make sure to clean the red paste away from the seal with a clean cloth or paper towel and keep it in a safe box. Get your own seal Get your own Japanese hand carved seal and high quality red paste on our store - HERE Order your own seal with the year of the Tiger (2022) on top from Char4U shop - HERE Or hand carved other suggested seals : LOVE DOUBLE HAPPINESS LONGEVITY DREAM DRAGON AND PHOENIX Note: Included in this article are affiliated links to Char4U seals and if you choose to use these, the studio may earn a commission for purchases you make with no extra cost to you. Thank you.

ArtBrush is an online school created to assist you in developing your skills in Japanese Ink Painting while giving you a deeper appreciation for this tradition within Japanese art history. The schools step-by-step courses are designed to allow you to practice brush exercises, guiding you in creating your own ink paintings while experiencing the meditative nature of the process. ArtBrush founder, Talia Lehavi, is an artist, practitioner and 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, the online school for Japanese ink painting. "My own extensive journey into Japanese art and its ink painting, studying with mentors for seven years and completing an MA at the School of Oriental and Africa Studies in London, has provided me with a wealth of knowledge that I want to share with you. My experience has allowed me to teach Japanese ink painting Worldwide, and I’ve created ArtBrush to allow students to learn alongside me and progress in their creative journey, wherever in the World." The school is catered for beginners as well as for those with prior experience, to provide a valuable learning voyage for anyone with a desire to learn the foundations of Japanese ink painting. We have a wide variety of courses available, including single courses, which focus on one specific subject, called ArtBrush Lessons. Our Four Nobles Foundation Course offers an in-depth study, and our expanding ArtBrush Library provides you with writings and essays on the history of Japanese ink painting. Each course also includes a Tools and materials check-list, PDF worksheets and additional compositions for you to practice in your own time. Learn More > For an in-depth foundation course on Japanese ink painting check it out here Sign up for a one-time payment of £220 > > For other individual painting tutorials please check the link HERE > Get your own Japanese ink painting tool set, curated by Talia HERE > For more writings on Japanese ink paintings sign up to ArtBrush Library Sign up for a one-time payment of £55 >

Ink painting, known as suibokuga or sumi-e, flourished in China from the 8th century onwards but it was not until the 13th century, when Japanese Zen monks brought this painting technique from Ch’an monasteries of southern China to Japan, that it became known in Japan and chiefly associated with Zen. It is a tradition steeped in rich history and wisdom, unique in its practice and value then, and more so today. You are invited to learn this ancient practice right here, right now. ArtBrush school offers a wide range of courses, where you will have the opportunity to depict subjects such as plum blossom, wild orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemum. The school also has an online library that provides access to a wealth of knowledge on this way of practice. The library includes in-depth essays on tools and materials and how to care for them, art history writings, and aesthetic notions of the masters of ink. The courses are led by Talia LeHavi, an artist, practitioner, and teacher of traditional Japanese ink painting, with over twenty-five years of experience. Why learn Japanese ink painting? 1. Learn a New Skill Whether painting is something completely new, or you already have experience as an artist, ink painting is pursued by people of all ages and capabilities. Everyone has an inner creative spirit; learning Japanese ink painting will allow you to unlock your creative potential and learn a new artistic skill. 2. Attune to Nature Japanese ink painting expresses the dynamics of life and the natural world and encourages the artist to become one with the subject. Observing nature and tuning to its rhythm, fosters a great sense of inner peace. Subjects change with the seasons, allowing the practitioner to become part of the changing cycle of life. In addition, this practice uses natural materials. You will dip your brush with water, soot, and minerals pigments, using the essence of water and earth to create serene, meditative paintings. 3. Practice Meditation Japanese ink painting is a form of active meditation. By bringing your attention to a still point where the brush meets the paper, you may find a new inner space of quiet and serenity. The practice does requires focus and mindfulness. Whether you are a beginner or already practice meditation, Japanese ink painting will support your inner authentic self whilst creating some beautiful artwork. 4. Improve Well-being As a form of mediation, this practice has the power of improving well-being and robustness. Practicing your brush and ink painting will connect you to your unique natural rhythm, and will increase your self-awareness and resilience. You may discover that the nature of the process brings you to new chambers within you, creating a deep state of calmness and wellness. 5. Open the gate to a new culture Japan is a land of high aesthetic. It is mysterious and fascinating, sometimes with seemingly contradictory natures and ways. The practice of Japanese ink painting provides an insight into Japanese culture and its aesthetics. By diving into this traditional art form, you will learn about the art of subtraction and symmetry, the nature of empty space and fullness, and the unique sense of harmony and balance that is characteristic of Japanese aesthetics. Experience Japanese ink painting for yourself and discover the artist within you. Begin your journey with ArtBrush online school today - HERE