Galloping into 2026: Painting the Horse in Ink and Watercolor

9-Week Course | January 5 – March 18, 2026 (Mondays or Wednesdays | No class on Jan 19 & Feb 16) 

Celebrate the Year of the Horse with a focused nine-week journey into painting horses in Chinese brush and watercolor. We will study the horse’s structure, movement, and spirit through Eastern and Western examples—from classical ink horses to modern watercolor interpretations.

Course Focus:

Technique: Learn to suggest speed, strength, and personality with a few well-placed strokes.

Philosophy: We will balance Xieyi (freehand expression) with basic anatomy so your horses feel alive, not just correctly drawn.

Yi (意, Mind Intent): Learn to let clear intention and feeling guide each stroke before the brush touches the paper.

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, 2016 

Format: Live on Zoom.

Syllabus: Tentative 9-Session Plan (Topics may be adjusted slightly based on class pace and interests)

1. Ink and Color Greetings: Combining ink lines with transparent color washes to design New Year or birthday cards.
2. Horse Essentials: Basic proportions, skeletal landmarks, and "bone" strokes for legs, neck, and head.
3. Running Horses: Capturing motion (gallop, trot, turning) using flying manes and split-brush techniques.
4. Expressive Heads: How small changes in eyes, nostrils, and ears change character (gentle, fiery, playful).
5. Horses in Groups: Mares and foals, herds at motion, and understanding "lead" vs. "supporting" horses.
6. Horse and Rider: Simplified figures and grooms; keeping the focus on the horse while suggesting narrative.
7. Horses in Landscape: Integrating horses into atmospheric ink landscapes (mountains, rivers, plains).
8. East Meets West: Cross-cultural studies looking at Western masterpieces for compositional and color ideas.
9. Poetic Inspiration: Design and complete your own horse painting infused with personal emotion.

Who Can Join? All levels are welcome.

Beginners: Learn how to hold the brush, see basic horse structure, and build confidence with simple poses.

Experienced Painters: Refine anatomy, experiment with dynamic compositions, and develop a personal, expressive 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:

1. Monday Zoom + Recording: Select this option if you plan to join the Monday evening sessions live on Zoom.
2. Wednesday Zoom + Recording: Select this option if you plan to join the Wednesday morning sessions live on Zoom.
3. 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. 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 “gallop into 2026” together—learning not only how to draw horses, but how to let their strength, grace, and free spirit come through every brushstroke.

	Monday + recording [Horse_Class_2026-1]	$140.00	Quantity :
	Wednesday Zoom + recording [Horse_Class_2026-2]	$140.00	Quantity :
	Recording only [Horse_Class_2026-3]	$138.00	Quantity :