Ngan Siu-Mui Art School

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Art School

Welcome to the Ngan Siu-Mui Art School.

The school offers workshops in Traditional Chinese Arts: Calligraphy, Painting, Seal Carving and the Art of Tea. The teaching is assumed by Ngan Siu-Mui herself in her Dorval atelier. More information can be gathered by using the links below or the sidebar menu. Please feel free to contact Ngan Siu-Mui herself for live informations.

"Siu-Mui is a consumate artist who lives to create beauty, teaches others to create and learn about the richness of the traditional art of her native land and to share her love of art with those who appreciate art." Her curriculum and her work are ample testimonies of her talent and knowledge in Traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy and seal carving. She is also the 27^th disciple of the great tea master Mr. Easun Lin from Taiwan. In 1998, she was awarded a tea ceremony teacher certificate by her master. She had demonstrated different thematic tea ceremonies in McCord Museum, Frontenac Culture House and the Traditional Chinese Culture Society in Montreal.

Traditional Chinese Arts Workshops

[Use the links below for more information]

— Calligraphy
— Painting
— Seal Carving
— Tea Ceremony
To see the list of all workshops, go to
- 2008 Fall Schedule

Calligraphy — Mind Painting

Calligraphy has always enjoyed an important position in Chinese Art. Historically, many philosophers and scholars loved it, not only as an art, but also as a mental discipline since progressing in this art demands both concentration and perseverance. Records of the past and of personal experiences of various calligraphers have asserted that if calligraphy was practiced for a long time, it would dispel boredom, dismiss worries and relieve emotional stress. Ou-Yang Sau (1007-1072), one of the Eight Great Scholars of the Tang and Sung dynasties, was a leading official at the imperial court who had extremely complex duties. Yet, in his leisure time, he often practiced calligraphy. In one of his essays, he explained why he never abandoned it. “In my childhood, I had many hobbies, but upon reaching middle age I gave them up, either because they no longer interested me, or because I am physically unable to engage in them. The only one that remains, and in which my interest grows with the passage of time, is calligraphy… I therefore realize why so many scholars in the olden days have paid so much attention to it.”From an artistic point of view, the practice of calligraphy is the beginning of cultivation of the Chinese arts. It enables a learner to acquire a sharp perception of all things in the universe, from simple lines to complex forms and movements. As an art, it can develop on two levels: the formal and the ideational (idea-image). Before entering into the ideational level to undertake lively calligraphic creations from inspirations, sparked by experience, a beginner should first tread upon the footpath to the formal one so as to gain competence in the brush manipulation of every stroke, the construction of each character and the composition of the whole piece of calligraphy. (From Chinese Calligraphy, Abstract Art, Mind-Painting by Ngan Siu-Mui)
According to the chronological order of evolutionary changes in the five calligraphy scripts, the workshops are classified in five different subjects: Seal, Clerical, Cursive, Running and Regular styles. The student will learn to use the subtle energy of the body to master the Chinese soft brush thus achiving magnificent strokes. Calligraphy and painting are based on the same principles so that movements learned in one art are a benefit for the other. Accordingly, Chinese monochrome painting of the four gentlemen (plum, orchid, chrysanthemum and bamboo) will be introduced in the workshops from time to time.
- Each workshop presents a unique subject based on master pieces throughout Chinese calligraphy history. As such, they can be attended by anyone with or without experience in Chinese calligraphy. The workshops are also self-contained and thus can be chosen independently.

When, Where, Fee, More Info, Contact

— When: on Saturdays, from 10am to 4pm, including a one hour lunch time.
- September 27 — Seal Script
  - The round stroke: central tip
  - The three sections method: hidden, central and return tips
  - Delay and powerful strokes
  - Drawing bamboo in relation to central tip and energy control
- October 25 — Clerical Script
  - The angular stroke: slanted tip
  - Strokes in a wavy form: "silkworm head" and "wild goose tail"
  - Drawing Bamboo in relation to slanted tip and energy control
- November 8 — Regular Script
  - Merging the round and angular strokes
  - The eight components of the character "Eternity"
  - Merging central and slanted tips to create desired strokes
  - Drawing Orchid in relation to central tip and energy control
- November 22 — Running Script
  - Merging the round and angular strokes
  - Linking strokes with subtle energy
  - Speeding and delaying the brush flow
  - Drawing Chrysanthemum in relation to central tip, slanted tip and energy control
- December 6 — Cursive Script
  - Merging the round and angular strokes
  - Linking strokes in a wild, frantic and liberal manner
  - Variation in brush flow
  - Curves in style
  - Drawing Plum Flower in relation to to central tip, slanted tip, linking strokes and energy control
— Where: Ngan Siu-Mui's studio in Dorval
— Fee
- $68 (+ taxes: $76.84) for each workshop, materiel and tools provided
- Cheque payable to Ngan Siu-Mui, 224 Stream Ave, Dorval, PQ, H9S 2P1
- A reimbursement will be considered only if cancellation is received seven days before the date of the workshop
— More info
- Calligraphy material available from the teacher
- The number of students is strictly limited to 8
- Workshops could be canceled if there is not enough participants
— Contact
- Ngan Siu-Mui, 514-633-1155
  Email: nsiumui@ngansiumui.com

> back to Traditional Chinese Arts Workshops

Chinese Painting

It is said that a Chinese artist "writes a painting and paints a calligraphy".
The student will learn to use the subtle energy of the body to master the Chinese soft brush in order to achieve magnificent paintings expressing one's mind image and will also learn the techniques related to the Chinese soft brushes, ink, colours, oriental papers as well as the proper way of choosing art tools and materials.
The workshops are scheduled during winter and fall sessions for the convenience of participants, allowing them to explore the mysterious and exotic qualities of one of the most important Chinese art.
- Each workshop is designed to introduce a unique subject, such as birds, flowers, fishes, insects, animals or landscapes. As such, they can be attended by anyone with or without experience in Chinese painting. The workshops are also self-contained and thus can be chosen independently.

The following topics are covered:
- Brushwork
  Center of gravity of the tip, rhythmic movement, bone strength, controlled energy, speeding and delaying, straightness and curvature, orientation, advantageous position and sharpness in response.
- Strokes
  Flying white, round and angular strokes; different Ts'un and moss dots for landscapes; special lotus leaves strokes.
- Water
  The mastery of water on the paper plays a very important role in order to realize an outstanding artwork.
- Ink
  Six tones of ink, ink wash, splattering ink and breaking ink.
- Colours
  Burnt sienna, indigo, gamboge yellow, vermilion, emerald green, ceruse, cobalt blue, etc.
- Brushes
  Choosing the proper brushes for a particular use. Soft hair brush, hard hair brush, flat brush.
- Paper
  Choosing the proper paper to match a particular style. Raw Suen paper, sized Suen paper, Ma-Chih, Pei-Chih, etc.
- Composition
  The Yin and Yang principle is used to arrange shapes and voids; heavy and light; smoothness and cragginess; straight and curve, congeniality and variation, etc.

When, Where, Fee, More Info, Contact

— When: on Saturdays, from 10am to 4pm, including a one hour lunch time.
- Day Lily
- Magnolia
- Landscape
- Bird
- Fish
— Where: Ngan Siu-Mui's studio in Dorval
— Fee
- $80 (+ taxes $90.40), material, tools and a painting sample are provided
— More info
- The number of students is strictly limited to 8
- Cheque payable to Ngan Siu-Mui, 224 Stream Ave, Dorval, PQ, H9S 2P1
- A reimbursement will be considered only if cancellation is received seven days before the date of the workshop
- Workshops could be canceled if there is not enough participants
— Contact
- Ngan Siu-Mui, 514-633-1155
  Email: nsiumui@ngansiumui.com

> back to Traditional Chinese Arts Workshops

Seal Carving

Seal Carving Workshops are designed for students who want to carve a chinese seal for their personal use. Students learn the technique of carving Chinese characters into stones; these stones, once inked, are used to stamp personal name, studio name, business logo or artworks.
- Workshops can be attended by anyone with or without experience in seal carving.

The following subjects are covered:
- What is Chinese Seal Carving
- Designing the Chinese words
- Writing on the Chinese paper
- Printing words on stone
- Carving the stone
- Stamping on the paper
- How to design your own stamp
- Practice

When, Where, Fee, More Info, Contact

— When: Saturday, from 10am to 4pm, including a one hour lunch time.
— Where: Ngan Siu-Mui's studio in Dorval
— Fee
- $100 (+taxes $113), Material (stone, ink, paper) and tools (carving knife, sandpaper, pencil) are provided. A booklet of lecture notes is also included.
— More info
- The number of students is strictly limited to 8
- Reservation: please confirm your seat by sending your cheque payable to Ngan Siu-Mui, 224 Stream Avenue Dorval PQ H9S 2P1
- A reimbursement will be considered only if cancellation is received seven days before the date of the workshop
- Workshops could be canceled if there is not enough participants
— Contact
- Ngan Siu-Mui, 514-633-1155
  Email: nsiumui@ngansiumui.com

> back to Traditional Chinese Arts Workshops

Tea, a pleasure for the body and for the soul

Although tea is known around the world as a healthy drink and a pleasure both for the body and the soul, most of the people do not know how to get the benefit from such a beautiful gift of the nature. A high quality tea can taste very ordinary and even bad if one doesn't know the proper way of brewing it.
The Tea Workshops use different approaches and are designed to help people who care about their well-being to get in touch with the ancient knowledge of Chinese tea and apply it to modern daily life. With such knowledge, one can thoroughly enjoy tea drinking to its fullest and experiment its implicit virtues.
The Tea Ceremony leads us to drink tea in an artful, joyful and relaxing atmosphere. It brings us back to the nature and provides a chance to make friends, share each other's thoughts, and create cordial feelings. Further more, one important goal is to break the barrier of social status or ages and encourage the desire for improvement.
- Each workshop is designed to introduce a unique subject and can be attended by anyone. The workshops are also self-contained and thus can be chosen independently.

When, Where, Fee, More Info, Contact

— When: on Saturdays
- Tea Workshops: from 10am to 12am
- Tea Ceremony Workshop: from 10am to 4pm including a one hour lunch time
- Oolong Tea
- Saturday
  - Different kinds of Oolong Tea
  - How to prepare a nice cup of Oolong Tea
  - How to fully taste Oolong Tea
- Green Tea
- Saturday
  - Different kings of Green Tea
  - How to prepare a nice cup of Green Tea
  - How to fully taste Green Tea
- Tea Ceremony
- Saturday
  - Tea Ceremony, Incense Ceremony and Flower Ceremony Demonstration
  - The proper way to perform and attend the tea ceremony
  - Practice
— Where: Ngan Siu-Mui's studio in Dorval
— Fee
- – For a 2 hours tea workshop: $25 (+ taxes: $28.25)
  – For the Tea Ceremony workshop (5 hours): $68 (+ taxes: $76.84)
— More info
- The number of students is strictly limited to 8
- Cheque payable to Ngan Siu-Mui, 224 Stream Ave, Dorval, PQ, H9S 2P1
- A reimbursement will be considered only if cancellation is received seven days before the date of the workshop
- Workshops could be canceled if there is not enough participants
— Contact
- Ngan Siu-Mui, 514-633-1155
  Email: nsiumui@ngansiumui.com

> back to Traditional Chinese Arts Workshops