Chinese Stroke, art of ink painting, or Sumi-e is my first love. It is originated around 6000 years ago in China . It began as calligraphy, and gradually developed into painting. The style and symbolism of the technique were greatly advanced during the 12 th and 13 th centuries, and this was about time that ink painting was introduced into Japan , and named as Sumi-e.

Today Chinese Stroke or Sumi-e artists can be found all over the world, using both traditional and more varied styles. From abstract to realistic, traditional to modern, color to black and white and from landscape to animals and figures, Chinese stroke covers a wide range of techniques, subjects, and styles.

I started to paint in Chinese Stroke since I was a 7 years old kid. My father was the first “Master” in my life. I was trained to do the calligraphy by him everyday. Sometime I try to do some trick on the writing I make the brush become hard like a pencil .(Let the brush dry without clean and the 2 nd day using it before it become soft), so I could write faster and finished it faster and I can go out playing. However, I would think this is one of the big reason to make me fall in love deeply to the Chinese stroke later.

I started the formal Chinese stroke class while I was 20 years old with a “Master” who graduated from Taiwan University . That was under an out campus program organize by “Malaysia Institute Of Art” or “MIA”. It was a bore learning procedure, the class was about 10 students, at the end remain 2 students. In the sense of belief I will able to paint as good as my “Master”, my stubborn attitude make me study with my Master for 6 years. I was doing some co-exhibition with my Master through out East Malaysia that time. It is interesting and motivated. I decided to change into oil painting in United State because I meet my 2 nd Master. Mr. Darby Barrett or Joseph Barrett, who give me encouraged to start my oil painting. I still love to paint Chinese stroke. Sometime I also provide class to people who like to know about it.