laura beaton is the new North American Director, iccps

Chinese CalligraphySumi-e ArtChinese Brush PaintingTraditional Chinese PaintingJapanese Sumi-eZen Art
Written By Laura Beaton

I am humbled to have been asked to take on the Director role for the North American Branch of the International Chinese Calligraphy & Ink Painting Society (ICCPS). (That was a mouthful, to say the least!)

The ICCPS is based in Tokyo, Japan and permits any new member throughout the world to join any Branch, depending on the artist’s needs. While I now head up the North American Branch, this art group of calligraphy and Sumi-e artists is comprised of members from the USA, Holland, Germany, Australia, Argentina, Croatia, and Canada. This is such a diverse group that has found commonality through an ancient art form; bringing it into the 21st century while honouring its history.

This is why the world needs art and artists! I am grateful for this opportunity to be of service to a community and art form that makes me who I am!

calligraphy and sumi-e artists coming together to take this ancient artform forward for future generations

International Chinese Calligraphy & Ink Painting Society (ICCPS)

Laura Beaton

I am a Toronto-born, international award-winning visual fine artist whose work fuses the traditions of Sumi-e, Chinese Brush Painting, and Western mixed media. Through my art, I explore and celebrate the differences and similarities among cultures—particularly Japanese, Chinese, and North American.

Though my roots are in Scottish bagpipes and English tea, a chance encounter with a Chinese brush painting on an antique tea wagon sparked a lifelong artistic journey. That early moment ignited a creative curiosity that led me to explore what it truly means to live, and create, in a multicultural society.

My art honours centuries-old techniques while looking to the future. I transform inks, rice papers, and layered textures into serene, imaginary worlds that are contemporary, yet grounded in tradition. Each piece whispers a quiet declaration: “I Am Canadian.”

Highlights of my career include:

• Election to both the Society of Canadian Artists and the Federation of Canadian Artists

• Multiple national and international awards, including Japan

• Serving as North American President for the International Chinese Calligraphy and Ink Painting Society, representing artists from eight countries

• Exhibiting in China, with my work held in the permanent collection of the Chinese government

As a non-Asian artist mastering the philosophies and aesthetics of traditional Japanese and Chinese ink art while infusing Canadian narratives, I aim to reimagine tradition, transcend borders, and create space for new perspectives. My practice is a re-wilding of the social graces and an invitation to connect.

https://LauraBeaton.com
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