About Charlene M. Fuhrman-Schulz

​I have always had an interest in art and all things oriental. I began studying Chinese Brush painting in 1989, when I took my first class at the Smithsonian. What started as an interest in watercolor and ink painting became an all consuming passion - a life-time vocation. In 1989 I began studying with Painting Master I-Hsiung Ju (1923-2012). As part of my study of both Chinese culture and painting, I traveled with him to China in 1993, 2001, 2004 and again in 2006 followed by a trip to Taiwan in 2007. We visited many scenic areas and gardens throughout both China and Taiwan and experienced the fantastic Chinese landscapes seen in paintings firsthand. Both China and Taiwan can be described as a land of mist, with thin mountainous spires rising through the clouds, and when the mist lifts, sheer drops of up to 3000 feet or greater appear. Pines cling to the cliff sides, along with a few monasteries. This is the China seen in many traditional Chinese paintings, and this is the China that inspires many of my new paintings. 

My subject matter is nature, whether it is a traditional landscape or a bird and flower painting. I use traditional materials, ink and brush on rice paper, to capture movement and life - making the brush dance and the ink sing.  Everything is captured in the spontaneous dance and movement of the brush as it meets the rice paper. There is no going back and correcting when painting with ink and rice paper.  This love of spontaneous Chinese painting has provided a unique segue for my exploration of more abstract techniques of Oriental painting such as “Splashing Ink” or “PoMo”.  These techniques entail pouring color and creating an image from the abstract through the use of traditional brush work.   At this point my work ranges from the very traditional to abstract and a blending of the two. 

I share my passion of oriental painting by teaching and currently teach Sumi-e painting at the Art League (Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA) – both for beginners and advanced students.  I have demonstrated Chinese brush painting to many groups ranging from the National Sumi-e meeting in May 2012 to the Internal Children’s Festival, Wolf Trap Park in 1996.  Currently I have work on exhibit at the Providence District Supervisor’s Office in Fairfax, at the Encore Color Studio and through the League of Reston Artists, in various locations throughout Reston.  I am currently a member of the League of Reston Arts (treasurer) and the National Sumi-e Society of America.