Mika Wakamatsuya

I am Japanese and based in Leicestershire. I paint Japanese calligraphy called “shodo” and ink paintings called “suibokuga”.

I studied “shodo” for 8 years when I was a child. The whole process of doing “shodo” makes me calm and helps me concentrate. Painting "shodo" is very different from other types of art. From beginning to end it's completed with a flow. Once you put the brush down on the paper you don't go back to re-touch, so it can be frustrating when it starts well but you don't like the very last stroke!