PLUM is the first of the 4 Gentlemen (the foundational subjects in Chinese Brush Painting that form the basis for begining study).

Dr. Ning Yeh, my esteemed teacher says, "The five petals of the plum flower represent the five basic virtues: benevolence, courage, propriety, wisdom and faithfulness. The plum trees bloom during the harsh winter. After the first snowfall, the Chinese poets used to ride into the forest to search for the early blossoms of the plum. It was an occasion for inspiration and wine. When the plum flowers are in full bloom, the entire forest becomes a shining sea of white and red blossoms.".

In this 2 class series, we will start at the beginning and cover the basics of brush preparation and loading, ink application on handmade rice paper and how to create simple and elegant Plum compositions. Since this is one of the fundamental floral subjects in which flower petal formation and branch variations are practiced, this class series using pure ink, metallic and white paints will provide a foundation for future study of more complex subjects in ink as well as color.

These step-by-step classes are specifically designed for beginners and will be taught at a gentle pace with lots of time to pracitce the various brush strokes. These classes also include weekly homework critiques to provide private customized learning and lesson integration. Space is very limited to ensure maximum personal attention.

A detailed supply list will be sent upn registration but, if you are new to Brush Painting and are needing painting supplies, here are 3 supply sets from Oriental Art Supply to choose from for this class series starting with the most basic and budget-friendly:

1) https://orientalartsupply.com/products/intro-brush-painting-set

2) https://orientalartsupply.com/collections/leigha-nicole/products/beginners-set-for-leigha-nicole

3) https://orientalartsupply.com/collections/leigha-nicole/products/artist-set-for-leigha-nicole-recommended

There are additional accessories and recommeded study books by Dr. Ning Yeh available on Leigha's teacher page: https://orientalartsupply.com/collections/leigha-nicole .

The supplies included in the most basic set are:

An Orchid Bamboo brush, 48 Practice Shuen sheets of handmade rice paper, Practice Ink, felt for use underneath your paper, a mini pie saucer for your ink and an instructional Orchid and Bamboo DVD from my teacher, the Emmy Award winning master painter Dr. Ning Yeh for reference and practice before and after the workshop.

The Beginner and Recomended Sets include 4 brushes (Pre or Premium brushes) consisting of Happy Dot, Small Flow, Large Flow and an Orchid Bamboo brush and a custom roll of handmade Practice Shuen, Jade Plate and Pi paper.

Full accessory sets either Premium or Budget (Felt, porcelain segmented water bowls and flower plates and spray bottle) are sold separately on Leigha's teacher page: https://orientalartsupply.com/collections/leigha-nicole

*** If you are using your own materials, please get in touch at leighanicole@gmail.com before the workshop to be sure you will have all that you need to participate.

Since these classes will be hosted over the Zoom platform, you will need a computer or laptop and a solid internet connection. Upon registration, you will receive specific instructions regarding Zoom log-in, classroom link, etc.

Dr. Yeh reminds us: "What is it that makes Brush Painting magical? It is the same thing that makes life magical. It is the link that ties your hand with your mind; your heart beat with the rhythm of the universe."

I hope you will join me for these 2 afternoons of fun and creativity!