my relationship with the bamboo brush

I have been an artist as long as I can remember.

However, my relationship with the bamboo brush began when I was twelve years old.

There was an art program on local public (then educational) television teaching basic sumi-e (Asian black ink painting). I would come home after school and sit in front of the TV with my brush, paper and ink. Each day there would be a different object to paint: orchid, crab, etc. This is how I became attached to the brush. For 60 years, I have been using ink and brush in the manner of Asian brush painters, primarily as a self-taught artist.

Then in 1996, I had the opportunity to take 2 workshops with 2 Chinese painting masters, Lok Tok and Yitong Lok of Toronto, Canada. This brief encounter turned my artistic world upside down. I received a glimpse of the depth and beauty of Chinese painting. I continued to study with the Loks during their biennial visits to Minnesota and as well as in visits to their home in Toronto.

In 1997, I took 2 terms of Chinese calligraphy at the University of Minnesota taught by Hong Zhang, a Chinese painting master who lives here in Minnesota. Shortly after those classes, I became a private student of Mr. Zhang. For 20+ years under his direction I continued to pursue a rigorous professional training in Chinese painting and calligraphy. My weekly training with Mr. Zhang challenged and strengthened my skills and understanding of this ancient form of creative expression. The rigor of practice in this tradition has deepened my understanding of the power of these simple materials: ink, brush, and paper.

May you find some measure of hope and peace in this artwork
as I have found in creating it.

—Bob Schmitt