I am very proud to submit on behalf of the home education children their original artworks for the Royal Academy Young Artists’ Summer Show. Thanks to RA for organising this annual event offering opportunity for our aspiring young artists. I am sure there will be some tough selection decisions. Good luck to all participants! 

Unfold your creativity…

In celebration of Chinese New Year, David delivered a series of workshops to students at Harbinger Primary School on 15th February 2019. He taught 90 students how to paint Chinese brush painting on rice paper, holding brush vertically and gliding ink using inkstick.

Feedback from Andy Smith, headteacher:

…the children thoroughly enjoyed it and it introduced the children to a lovely aspect of Chinese culture.

David is very impressed by the courteous manner and inquisitiveness of Harbinger School students. Below is a collage of their drawings. Some real potential talent was on display here:

David partnered with Cass Art in hosting a Chinese Brush painting workshop at their Islington flagship store. This half-day workshop has helped to plug the gap in the London art scene where Chinese art teaching is scarce. The feedback has been positive. In particular, attendees enjoyed learning how to hold a Chinese brush vertically, sketch using clear water on rice paper, and write their names in Chinese calligraphy.

• Date: Thursday 20th September 2018
• Time: 3pm – 6pm
• Location: Cass Art Islington, 66-67 Colebrook Row, London N1 8AB

What can you learn from this workshop?

• Make various Chinese brush strokes using a Chinese Brush
• Enhance the feeling of perspectives by adding various intensities of water to Chinese ink
• Make simple Chinese ink-and washing drawing with popular Chinese motifs
• Write your name in Chinese calligraphy
• Appreciate the difference between Western and Chinese arts and how learning Chinese techniques can inspire your watercolour painting and impressionistic artwork

With delight David held two workshops as part of the Summer of Art event, organised by Tower Hamlets Council from 7-9th August. He was invited to exhibit some of his Chinese artworks in the beautiful Art Pavilion and share his Chinese heritage with the British public. See a video with the highlight of the event.

David was grateful to Idea Store for giving him the opportunity of running this workshop at their resourceful store in Canary Wharf.

This 1-day art workshop aimed to unleash your inner zen.  Watch an inspirational video here. 

• Date: Saturday 28th July 2018
• Time: 10am – 4pm  with 1-hour lunch break (bring lunch and wear old clothes) 
• Location: Lab 1, Idea Store Canary Wharf, Churchill Pace, London E14 5RB

What can you learn from this workshop?

• Make various Chinese brush strokes using a Chinese Brush
• Enhance the feeling of perspectives by adding various intensities of water to Chinese ink
• Apply zen ideology to art
• Write your name in Chinese calligraphy
• Appreciate the difference between Western and Chinese arts and how learning Chinese techniques can inspire your watercolour painting and impressionistic artwork

Student Artworks and Feedback

“The creative experience – the freedom of expression in this art form. Very therapeutic…so useful for relaxation, awareness and mindfulness.”

“I thought the workshop was very enjoyable and informative, and delivered in a very friendly, relaxed way.” 

“I have enjoyed being able to learn a new art techniques and being able to express myself through it….. some brilliant ideas for my second year project”

When I was a kid, I could spend the whole day studying the pictures of an illustrated book, letting them usher me to a world of vivid imagination. Illustrated books are not just for children. As an adult, I’m still enchanted by a well illustrated book. 

I have recently come across The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon, published by Folio Society. This features some magnificent watercolour illustrations by Jasper Deane.

Written over 1,000 years ago, this is a rare and fascinating account of life in Japanese imperial court written by a lady-in-waiting to the Empress. As a common custom of the time period, Sei Shōnagon kept her diary in a wooden pillow with a drawer, way before gossip column, blog post and Twitter.

As it is about 10^th-century Heian Japan, I would have thought some topics are quite distant to us and the rest of the world. However, Jasper has brought alive a glimpse of this isolated bubble and brought the readers closer to what the idealized ancient Japanese court life was like. Through extensive research, he has certainly captured some of the finest Japanese mannerisms and lavish costumes in his hypnotic watercolour art.

Also refer to Folio Society and Youtube book review here.

Image may be subject to copyright

As a sequel of the successful Chinese art exhibition at Canary Wharf, David was touring East London to showcase his other side of artistic journey from a banker to an abstract realism artist.  Of course he was not shy away from his fond Chinese roots, paper cutting, which he was keen to share with the local EastEnders.

His latest exhibition was held at Idea Store Bow in April, extended till end of May due to popularity.

Guest Lecturer: David Ko

• Date: Fri 6th April
• Time: 10am-4pm
• Location: Shadwell Centre,  455 The Highway,London, E1W 3HP

What can you learn from this workshop?

• Make various Chinese brush strokes using a Chinese Brush
• Enhance the feeling of perspectives by adding various intensities of water to Chinese ink
• Unique Chinese techniques including ink breaking, painting mist and cloud on the reverse side of the rice paper, ink absorption from glass painting
• Write your name in Chinese calligraphy
• Appreciate the difference between Western and Chinese arts and how learning Chinese techniques can inspire your watercolour painting and impressionistic artwork

Student Artworks and Feedback:

“David, thank you for a wonderful experience today. The whole thing was an absolute joy and really inspiring. You put so much work into it.”

“David thank you for such brilliant art day today which I found quite an eye opener and enjoyable and with such a delightful bunch of people!”

In celebration of Chinese New Year, David partnered with John Lewis to give demonstrations on Chinese calligraphy and paper cutting in their Stratford Westfield store on 16th and 17th February. There was plenty of interactions that gave John Lewis customers a unique shopping experience. David helped customers translate their names into Chinese and write personal messages in traditional Chinese calligraphy.  There was a constant stream of customers young and old who were interested to find out more, lean some Chinese and take home a small momento.

Feedback from John Lewis:

Hi David, thank YOU for coming in! At John Lewis the focus is more and more about having great experiences in store (experiences you can’t get online shopping) and having you in was great.  Although it didn’t necessarily drive sales, customers had smiles, had a good experience, learned something, and stayed in the shop longer than they would have otherwise.