Here is upcoming schedule of one-day intensives for December 2024.

Click here to download pdf of complete schedule and descriptions.

To register for any of these opportunities,

call 612 333-1881 to check for available spaces

Bob offers one day intensives throughout the year.

Here is a selection of topics he has offered.

These one-day intensives are offered seasonally or by arrangement

Each is a 4-hour workshop focused on introducing the participant to Chinese brush painting & specific topics within that tradition. 

Introduction to Chinese brush painting intensive

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

Participants will:
• learn the practice of grinding ink/loading brush
• practice the immediacy of putting ink to paper
• explore the discipline of brush painting including basic calligraphy strokes,
painting rocks, trees, pine and mountains
• feel the joy of working with these ancient materials

Strengthening brush skills with Seal Script Intensive

Some experience helpful but not required.

Participants will:
• learn basic forms of seal script
• exercise their control of brush for stronger strokes
• experience the challenge of this ancient form that predates the invention of the brush.

Painting Water / Mists Intensive

Some experience helpful but not required.

Participants will:
• learn the practice of ink accumulation as it relates to creating water and mists in brush painting
• learn to work both in wet-on-dry and wet-on-wet
• experiment with a variety of techniques to create water

One-stroke / Splash painting intensive

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

Participants will:
• learn techniques for loading mutliple colors of ink
• learn techniques for painting with multiple inks in one brush stroke
• experiment with a variety of sizes of brushes, including “mops”
• create large scale splash paintings

Painting snow and pines intensive

Some experience helpful but not required.

Participants will:
• learn the practice of painting negative space
• learn techniques for building layers of ink and wash
• learn the practice of building the structure of pine tree
• learn variations on painting pine needles
• learn what makes a big pine big
• experiment with several methods of painting snow
• create a complete snow covered landscape

Painting cute little baby animals intensive

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

Participants will:
• explore the use of simple line and wash to create
adorably cute paintings of animals and insects
(note: simple ≠ easy)
• learn to handle use of minimal strokes for greater effect
• have more fun than a barrel of monkeys,

Ensō & other zen painting intensive
the zen of brush painting

learn to paint ensō & other one-stroke paintings

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

Participants will:
• explore zen Buddhist simplicity of creating an entire painting with just one stroke
• use traditional Chinese brush and ink, create enso (a circles)
• learn techniques for painting with multiple tones or inks in one brush stroke
• practice simple zen calligraphy in Chinese and experiment with large brushes to create large scale paintings.

Painting Hakuin’s blind men crossing the bridge intensive

a painting/meditation workshop focused on copying Hakuin’s Blind Men Crossing the Bridge

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

Participants will:
• explore the simple meditative and artistic complexities in Blind Men Crossing the Bridge by Hakuin, a 7th century Japanese Buddhist teacher
• work traditionally combining demonstration and copying models
• create their own version of this zen masterpiece
• experience the meditative power of working with the brush, ink and paper

Painting the animals of the Chinese zodiac Intensive

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

Participants will:
• learn to paint all 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.
• learn the corresponding Chinese characters for each animal
• sharpen skills of handling ink and brush
• have a ridiculous amount of fun doing it

One stroke makes a landscape

Spend a day learning how to load a brush to create an entire landscape in one stroke.

Previous experience not required. Beginners welcome.

Participants will:

• experiment with variations in loading the brush with multiple colors

• practice slow brush work

• exercise in being extremely present to the brush, ink and paper