Artist, Bruce Iverson brings a 3,000 year-old tradition to life.  Using a style called “hsieh-i”, Iverson paints spontaneous strokes of watercolor to create images of the natural world on handmade rice paper.  According to tradition, the artist wanders outdoors, observes nature and then paints what is most vividly remembered.  In all cases the painting should express “chi”.  This term can best be translated as breath or spirit...the energy that gives something life.  To create his works, Iverson uses very simple yet elegant tools called the “Four Treasures”....hand ground sumi ink, bamboo brushes, a carved inkstone, and handmade rice paper.  Though sometimes appearing simple, the art of Chinese Brush Painting demands a high level of skill, concentration, and knowledge of the materials.  Once the brush is committed to paper, there is no turning back or touching up...success or failure in an instant!

The best pieces result from times when heart, mind, and hand are in accord and are in fact “written ideas”.  The traditional red seal or “chop” is a handcarved stamp in Chinese characters which designates the artist’s name, studio, or a poetic idea.  Bruce has been painting in this manner for over thirty years and has studied with three master Chinese brush painters...Jean Shen, I-Hsiung Ju, and Ning Yeh.  His work is part of corporate and private collections in the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia.  Bruce teaches workshops and classes in Chinese Brush Painting, has a greeting card line, and is a juried member of the New Hampshire Art Association.

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