HELENA

I explored how muk (traditional Korean ink) behaves on a modern material, using Arches premium watercolor paper. Although muk is characterized by a single color, black, varying levels of dilution allow artists to convey a range of tones and emotions.

Staying within the tradition of sumukhwa (ink wash painting), I applied different brush strokes, some heavier and some lighter, to emphasize flow, control, and movement. Each layer of muk added quiet depth to the painting.

To my surprise, the effect was even more pronounced on watercolor paper than on hanji (traditional Korean mulberry paper). The result feels raw and edgy, yet balanced. I painted a rose as a central anchor, experimenting with brush strokes of different weights. Finally, I added a touch of red using a natural mineral pigment, bunchae.