Meet Joan Lok

Joan Lok is an artist combining traditional techniques to create innovative approaches in watercolors.  A master of Sumi-e, Asian brush painting, Joan won many awards including the Kyoto Education Council Award from Japan, Best of Show from the Sumi-e Society of America and the Sumi-e Artists of Canada Joint Exhibition, Central Florida Watercolor Society, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival Art Contest. NASA selected Joan to create artwork inspired by the James Webb Space Telescope.  Listed in Who’s Who of American Art, and Who’s Who in American Women, Joan is featured in The Best Flower Painting and Stroke of Genuis.  Her art instruction book Chinese Brush Painting: Flowers is a best-seller available in English, Dutch, French, Italian and Spanish.  Joan teaches online (www.joanlok.com) and discusses technical know-how on YouTube (@joanlok).

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Workshop Description

Advance your painting of flowers and birds with freehand brushwork with sumi-e master Joan Lok. 

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Day 1, May 24 - Sumi-e Flower: Lotus in Expressive Strokes) – After discussing the materials, classic brushstrokes, how to hold and load the brush with multiple colors, Joan will paint Lotus in a variety of sumi-e techniques.  This includes the use of freehand brushwork, calligraphic contours, layering and the expertise mix of white gouache and transparent watercolor.  The workshop also covers lotus leaves, stems, seedpods, buds and withering lotus.

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Day 2, May 25 - Sumi-e Birds: White Egret and Kingfisher – Learn to paint a mid-size and a small bird common to lotus ponds with Joan.  She will paint white egrets in minimal strokes, and playful kingfisher with beautiful feather patterns.  Joan will show how to create birds freehand without sketching and how to capture the birds’ spirit with special attention to their eyes. 

Supplies:

 

Thank you for joining Joan Lok Sumi-e Workshop.

If you have experience with sumi-e, you probably have all the supplies needed.  If you are new to the art of sumi-e but have watercolor experience, don’t rush to buy all the specialty brushes and paper.  Get a feel of sumi-e at the workshop and get the supplies if you decide to continue exploring sumi-e art.  I am pretty relaxed on supplies so watercolor alternatives will work.

 

PAPER –

• Rice Paper – Any unsized kind will work, including student grade ones.  I use double Shuen, Ma or Pi in my demo. 

• Newsprint, any size, for practicing strokes.

• Watercolorist Alternatives A pad of any kind of rice paper and a pad of newsprint for practice.

 

BRUSHES -

• Two large or medium Combination Bursh

• One small Soft Bursh

• One Fine Bursh

• One Hake Bursh (2½ inch)  

• Optional – One small Mountain Horse Bursh  

• Watercolorist Alternatives: Watercolor brush rounds sizes 6, 8, 10, 12.  A fine one for details (Round 00 or 1), and a Flat (1½ or 2½ inches to apply wash)

 

COLORS –

• Black sumi-e ink (I will have a bottle for the class to share.)

• White Gouache.  I use Dr. Martin’s Bleed Proof White, but other brands, such as W/N white gouache will work.

• I am liberal with colors, so just bring your usual watercolor palette with basic hues.  I use Holbein, Winsor Newton, and Daniel Smith.  Have the basic hues of what we will paint, say Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow Light, Vermillion, Yellow Ocher, Indigo, Raw Umber, Sap Green.

 

 MORE SUPPLIES –

• Little plates or watercolor palette, paper towel, water container, spray bottle, hairdryer, felt (to protect the table. An old bath towel works as well.)     

 

Here is a sumi-e starter set workable for the workshop –

https://paragonart.com/shop/ols/products/brush-washer-2-well-porcelain-white-brs-wsh-2-wll

Currently at 30% off. 

 

Joan will have her instruction book, “Chinese Brush Painting: Flowers” available at $20 during the workshop.  Book Signing available.   

 

Joan will bring some paper brushes for students to borrow during the workshop.  Please email Joan at joanlokart@gmail.com so she can estimate how many extra ones to bring with her.  

 

Disclaimer –

The links are only for your reference. Joan is not affiliated with Paragon Art and does not receive any commission from the seller.