I offer affordable, in‑person Chinese Brush Painting (Sumi-e) classes here in the North Shenandoah Valley.   

I designed these classes the way I would want them designed for myself—thoughtful, practical, and generous. In my classes I demonstrate beautiful Chinese brushes, which I personally sourced and curated. These brushes are offered at prices far below typical retail, making it far more accessible to build a serious brush collection over time.  Brushes are not included in the class fee.  Brush rental is now available for a small fee.

Chinese brushes can be expensive. For many artists, getting started can feel like standing at the edge of a deep chasm or a wide river—without a way across. My class series is designed to be that bridge.

This is an entry into a new world of painting—one where you can interpret the natural world around you in a uniquely expressive way. I believe this process is deeply empowering for artists, especially because so many of us purchase brushes without ever being shown what they are meant to do. 

Chinese painters use brushes very differently from Western painters, and Chinese paper is also very different. The experience is fun, challenging, exploratory, and relaxing.

Ruth Ward

Instructor and Founder