Nadja Van Ghelue

My artwork comprises Zen calligraphy, watercolor and ink paintings, and abstract calligraphies. My mediums are ink, watercolors and natural pigments on rice paper, mainly Xuan paper. I wield the Chinese and Japanese brush, preferably the flexible sheep's hair brush.

Many of my Zen calligraphies express the Emptiness teaching from the Heart Sutra, which has been the original inspiration for my Japanese calligraphy artwork.

Other calligraphies focus on the teachings of the Diamond Sutra, Platform Sutra, or depict Zen koan, Zen poetry or single kanji. In my watercolors and ink paintings I strive for a pictorial synthesis of the subject, in the spirit of Japanese ink painting, using bold washes and vivid brush strokes.

I initially trained in Japanese Zen calligraphy and later on deepened my knowledge of the different styles of Japanese calligraphy. I simultaneously expanded my artistic activity into Japanese and Chinese ink and watercolor painting.

Over the years, through mastery of the brush technique and through meditation practice my brush work has acquired its unrestrained and direct expression.

I am the author of :

The Dance of the Zen Brush, Explore the Buddha Dharma with Zen Calligraphy
A selection of fifty-four Zen calligraphies and paintings, brushed and painted by contemporary artist Nadja Van Ghelue,

A Kanji Stroke Order Manual for Heart Sutra Copying
An insightful practical guide for the actual copying of the Heart Sutra in Japanese kanji in regular script.

A Self-Study Course for Writing Small Seal Script
A concise introduction for beginners and intermediate practitioners of Japanese and Chinese calligraphy to writing small seal script.

Zen Enso Journal: Enso Circle Journaling, Connect with your Buddha Mind
With this meditative Enso journal, the artist invites you to practice Zen Enso circle drawing on a regular basis.

Buddha Art Journal: 108 Unique Zen Buddha Calligraphies for Daily Inspiration
An artistic collection of hand-brushed Buddha Kanji calligraphies for spiritual journaling