Sumi-e Course (8 sessions)
Foundations and Beyond
What is Sumi-e?
Sumi-e is a traditional East Asian ink wash painting that originated in China and later spread to Korea and Japan. The term Sumi-e comes from Japanese, where Sumi means black ink, and E means painting.
Using black ink on Washi paper or silk, Sumi-e captures the spirit or essence of a subject rather than detailed realism. With deliberate brushstrokes and varying ink tones, it emphasizes simplicity, spontaneity, and a meditative approach rooted in Zen philosophy.
This eight-session Sumi-e course offers a calm and focused introduction to traditional East Asian ink painting. Rooted in slowness, presence, and careful observation, the course invites participants to deepen their relationship with brush, ink, water, and rice paper. It is open to both beginners and those with prior experience.
We begin with the Four Noble Ones—bamboo, orchid, chrysanthemum, and plum blossom—learning their symbolic meanings and essential brush techniques. Rather than aiming for repetition of form, each session explores variation and sensitivity, allowing repetition to become a way of seeing, feeling, and refining one’s practice.
In later sessions, the course expands to birds, flowers, and landscapes, and concludes with a personal final work based on each participant’s chosen motif.
Taught in a very small group (2-4 persons), the course offers close individual guidance and a quiet space for focused practice and reflection.
About the lessons
Practical
information
Biweekly sessions: January–May 2026
Each session: 2-hour guided lesson + optional 1-hour open practice
Schedule:
Wednesdays, 10:00–12:00
21 January /4 and 18 February/4 and 18 March/1 and 15 April/6 May
Saturdays, 10:00-12:00
17 & 31 January/14 February/7 & 21 March/4 & 18 April/9 May
Fee: €280
Materials & Tools:
Please note that materials and tools are not included. Participants are asked to bring their own Sumi-e tools: brush, paper (such as rice paper), ink stone, and ink stick or ready-made ink. An introduction will be given during the first lesson. Materials can also be borrowed per session for an additional €5.
Location: Leidseplein 49, Haarlem
Language: English, Dutch, or Japanese
Instructor: Soonhwa Kang
About Soonhwa
Soonhwa Kang offers Sumi-e workshops and course rooted in traditional East Asian ink painting, with an emphasis on presence, simplicity, and mindful movement. Her workshops are held with diverse groups in both private and public settings, including concept stores and academic environments such as the University of Amsterdam.
The sessions guide participants through the fundamentals of brushwork and ink, while encouraging quiet observation, repetition, and personal expression. Open to all levels, the workshops focus less on technical perfection and more on developing sensitivity to materials and rhythm.
Sumi-e is approached not only as a painting practice, but as a way to slow down and connect deeply with the act of making.
Words from Participants
"It was a special experience for me. When you took my hand and we painted together, I felt how much tension there was in my body. I am longing to use the attitude you showed us in Sumi-e painting. And I am grateful! Thank you so much for your warmth, kindness, and your expertise!"
— Marjan Jaspers, Visual Artist, Haarlem
Private & Group Sessions
Sumi-e session can also be experienced privately or in a small group. The same content is offered with flexible scheduling, tailored to your availability.
To inquire about availability, please include the following information in your message:
Preferred date(s) and time(s)
Number of participants
Type of session (private or group)