Painting the Horse and Landscape in Ink and Watercolor
9-Week Course | January 5 – March 18, 2026 (Mondays or Wednesdays | No class on Jan 19 & Feb 16)
We are looking forward to starting our new series in January 2026, the year of the Horse! In response to recent student feedback, Henry has refined the curriculum to include Landscape Painting as a core component of this course.
While the horse remains the central subject, we will now dedicate significant time to the environment it inhabits. You will learn to integrate the dynamic energy of the horse with the atmospheric stillness of grassland, mountains, water, and trees, creating balanced and complete compositions.
Course Focus:
Technique: Mastering the "bone strokes" for both the horse's anatomy and the rocky landscape structure.
Composition: How to place a moving subject (the horse) within a static environment (landscape) to create depth and perspective.
Yi (Mind Intent): Visualizing the entire scene—foreground, middle ground, and background—before painting.
Class Schedule & Options (Select One) This course is taught twice a week with the same curriculum. Please choose the time that best fits your schedule:
Option A: Monday Evenings (Hybrid)
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Pacific Time), January 5 - March 18, 2026 (No class on Jan 19 & Feb 16)
Format: In-Person at Joslyn Center, Alhambra, CA, OR Live on Zoom.
Option B: Wednesday Mornings (Online)
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Eastern Time (9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Pacific Time), January 14 - March 11, 2026
Format: Live on Zoom.
Syllabus: Tentative 9-Session Plan
(Topics may be adjusted slightly based on class pace and interests)
Week 1: Drinking Horse with Waterfall We begin with basic proportions, skeletal landmarks, and "bone" strokes for the legs, neck, and head, grounded by a waterfall setting.
Week 2: Ancient Horses with Orchids: Capturing the texture and patina of bronze horse statues using ink and wash, contrasted with the elegance of orchids.
Week 3: Running Horses in Grassland Capturing motion (gallop, trot, turning) using flying manes and split-brush techniques across open plains.
Week 4: Flying Horses over Landscapes Depicting the symbolic "Celestial Steed" soaring over landmarks and cityscapes.
Week 5: Horses in Groups (Mountain Formation) Composing mares, foals, and herds in motion, using the structural stability of mountain formations to organize the group.
Week 6: Horse & Rider in Light and Shadow Simplified figures and grooms; keeping the focus on the horse while suggesting narrative through lighting.
Week 7: Horses in the High Landscape Integrating horses into atmospheric ink landscapes (mountains, rivers) to study the relationship between animal and environment.
Week 8: The Horse of the American West Depicting the working horse in its historical element—herding cattle across desert plains or rugged terrain.
Week 9: Poetic Inspiration (Figures in Motion) Drawing inspiration from two distinct masters: Carol Grigg (American Indian figures) and modern Chinese master Peng Xiancheng (Tang Dynasty court ladies). We will explore how to use "boneless" (mogu) color washes to create dreamlike, poetic scenes of riders.
Who Can Join? All levels are welcome.
Beginners: Learn how to hold the brush, see basic horse structure, and build confidence with simple poses and background elements.
Experienced Painters: Refine anatomy, experiment with complex landscape compositions, and develop a personal style.
Supplies You’ll Need Chinese brush painting basics are recommended:
Brushes: A few Chinese brushes, including:
Soft hair brush (for washes).
Stiffer or combination brush (essential for horse "bone" strokes).
Small detail brush (for eyes and fine lines).
Ink: Bottled sumi ink or traditional ink stick and ink stone.
Paper: Xuan or mulberry paper (have both practice sheets and better-quality sheets for final work).
Optional: Masa Xuan paper (allows you to print the compositional guide and paint over it).
Colors: Watercolors or traditional Chinese pigments. Recommended colors include earth tones, primary colors, and a few greens/blues for landscape settings.
Accessories: Palette, water containers, felt pad, paperweights, tissues, and a brush rest.
Optional: Your name or mood seal and red seal paste to finish your work.
New to the medium? You can start with a basic student value set from Blue Heron Arts and add colors or specialty papers as you go.
How to Register Tuition: $138–$140 for the 9-week series. All students (Live or Recording-only) receive access to HD Recordings and email critique from Henry.
Please select your preferred primary session from the options menu:
- Monday Zoom + Recording: Select this option if you plan to join the Monday evening sessions live on Zoom.
- Wednesday Zoom + Recording: Select this option if you plan to join the Wednesday morning sessions live on Zoom.
- Recording Only: Select this option if you prefer to watch on your own schedule without attending live.
(Note: Monday and Wednesday sessions cover the same curriculum. You may register for one and get Zoom access for both sessions to meet your busy schedule. Monday In-Person students must register via the Joslyn Center link below).
For In-Person Students (Alhambra, CA): Please do not register on this page. [Click Here to Register via the Joslyn Center].
Join Us! Join us this winter to learn not only how to draw horses, but also how to paint the landscape around them.
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