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What a fantastic sumi-e journey! The traditional machiya in Kyoto where we had our workshop sessions with Margot-sensei offered an atmosphere of calm and focus that no ordinary studio could match. Visits to beautiful temples, gardens and...

Travelling to Japan and visiting the places where sumi ink and brushes are made by hand was a truly special experience. Seeing these traditional crafts made me realise how much work and devotion lies behind every single sumi-e painting. ...

I have been attending Margot’s sumi-e workshops regularly since 2017. Margot is not only a wonderful artist but also a fantastic teacher. She has a remarkable gift for motivating her students and helping them achieve their very best...

This trip to Japan was a deeply moving and enriching experience.   It brought together culture, creativity, personal encounters and relaxation in a wonderful way.   Margot, our travel and sumi-e teacher, shaped the jo...

Before the Paper: An Autumn Harvest This autumn, there is another side of Japanese papermaking worth getting to know.Alongside the plants that provide its fibres, traditional washi depends on materials that help those fibres become a she...

Autumn and the Hidden Life of a Japanese Brush This October, we turn our attention to a detail easily overlooked when we pick up a Japanese brush.Its character begins with the hair from which it is made.The animal, the part of its body a...

Autumn Opens the Ink-Making Season at Kobaien On 12 October, we stand on the threshold of the season that sets the rhythm of traditional ink making at Kobaien. Established in 1577, this workshop in Nara passes its skills from one generat...