O’Hanlon Center for the Arts
Intuitive Ink Painting & The Zen Circle
October 25, 2026 10:00–3:30
$195 non-member / $156 OHCA member
materials fee: $20 + supply list
Step into a calming, immersive workshop where intuition guides the brush and imperfection becomes a source of beauty. Blending Eastern and Western approaches to abstraction, we’ll explore meditation, movement, and expressive mark-making through ink and watercolor.
Rooted in the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, this class invites you to let go of perfection, become present, and discover the unexpected. We’ll begin with gentle centering and then move into intuitive painting practices, including the ensō—the Zen meditation circle symbolizing presence, wholeness, and the beauty found in imperfection.
The class culminates in creating an accordion-fold book filled with your own marks, paintings, and designs—a unique artwork that reflects your experience of the day.
No prior experience is needed—just a willingness to slow down, trust your intuition, and create from within.
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Date to be Announced
Introduction to Asemic Writing
Asemic writing is the creation of marks that resemble handwriting but carry no literal meaning or readable text. It is the word before words form—the voice too distant to be understood—a universal expression without country or dialect.
We’ll begin with a slideshow exploring the rich history and possibilities of asemic writing, from ancient scripts and symbols to the calligraphic line and the work of contemporary artists. From there, you’ll begin your own exploration, starting with your handwriting and moving into exercises that help you loosen up.
Through guided exercises and playful experimentation, we’ll explore line, gesture, rhythm, repetition, and space. You’ll discover how asemic marks can infiltrate and transform your existing artwork or become works of art in their own right.
You’ll leave with a collection of new work, fresh approaches to mark-making, and a deeper trust in your own intuition and expressive voice. My intention is to guide you beyond casual scribbling toward authentic marks that arise from the heart and become uniquely your own.
All levels welcome. There is a materials list and a supply fee.
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Date to be Announced
Wabi Sabi Ink Painting: Finding Beauty in Imperfection
Step into a creative space where intuition leads and imperfection becomes beauty. This immersive workshop explores abstract painting through both Eastern and Western perspectives, blending meditation, movement, and mark-making to create expressive, finished paintings.
Rooted in the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, we’ll release the desire for perfection and welcome the unexpected. Discover the quiet magic that happens when ink meets water, gestures emerge without planning, and the body and breath guide the brush.
We’ll begin with gentle centering and meditation, preparing you to work from the heart and engage your whole body in the creative process. You’ll practice painting the ensō—the Zen circle expressing wholeness, presence, movement, and stillness. Using Asian brushes, ink, and watercolor, you will create calligraphic paintings with layered accents that bring depth, atmosphere, and emotion to your work.
Through guided exercises and open-ended exploration, you’ll learn to trust your intuition, loosen up, and respond to what unfolds. You’ll leave with a collection of expressive paintings and new ways to bring spontaneity and freedom into your artwork.
Open to all levels. No prior experience required. Ideal for artists, writers, and anyone seeking a mindful, embodied approach to creativity.
Sherrie Lovler is a painter, poet, and teacher whose work bridges Western calligraphy and the expressive spirit of Asian brush painting. With a BA in Studio Art, she has taught for several decades at international calligraphy conferences and institutions including Ghost Ranch, Northern Arizona University, and art centers in Northern California. Her paintings explore the space between writing and image. Inspired by Asian brushwork and the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, she embraces imperfection, spontaneity, and fluid mark-making. Sumi ink, gesture, color, and asemic writing become an abstract visual language. She is the author, illustrator, and designer of the award-winning book On Softer Ground. Her latest book, Distant Voices, explores art as a collaboration with nature, poetry, and unseen influences. She participates in Sonoma County Art Trails of and presented a solo exhibition at Gallery Route One in Point Reyes Station in 2025.