Have you ever considered diving into the world ink painting The Tingology? Let me tell you, it’s an exciting ride. When I signed up for a Jiu Jing Mo Shui Hua Ke Cheng, I didn’t know what I was in for. The journey of a clumsy artist to a confident one is filled with twists and turn.

I can still remember my first day. With a brush in hand and some ink I felt like an infant trying to walk before running. My paper looked like a mess and my strokes were shaky. Rome was not built in a single day, after all.

Ink painting teaches patience, which is one of its most fascinating features. Imagine capturing the essence of a forest with only a few brushstrokes. Imagine trying to write a novel in only 10 words. Each stroke has a personality and a mood.

Our instructor taught us an easy exercise: to paint bamboo leaves. Does it sound easy? You’re wrong! The secret lies in your pressure and the angle of your brush. You can get a blob if you apply too much pressure; if you use too little, it will be barely visible.

When you begin to experiment, the real magic begins. The results of using rice paper instead of regular sketching papers were amazing! Rice paper absorbs ink differently and creates beautiful textures.

I was also surprised by how meditative the ink painting process can be. Imagine soft music in the background while your brush glides smoothly across the page, calming your brain bit by bit.

Don’t forget that mistakes are part of the creative process. One time, I accidentally spilled some water on a nearly completed piece. I was initially panicked, but then noticed that the water spread interesting patterns through the ink.