In the midst of tests, homework and classes, many students find quiet relaxation a necessity. With several art courses offered at discount prices for students, some have found that there is no better source of rest and inspiration than the Craft Center.

Last week, the Craft Center offered a course in Chinese brush painting. According to Ellen Ko , the artist and instructor that night, this was to commemorate the Lunar New Year.

As Ko introduced the art form to students who had never experience Chinese brush painting before, it became clear the art form was steeped in traditions and philosophies still very applicable to the college lifestyle.

As Ko said during the class, Chinese brush painting has a long history in Chinese culture.  Scholars and their students would spend hours in creating their masterpieces. Even the traditional ink required time and patience of the artist as they would grind an ink stone against a block hundreds of time.

Although this art form is still practiced in many places in Asia, this art form is completely alien to many people in the Western world.

With an emphasis on simplicity and feeling, the art form is a challenge for many people. However, the feelings behind the strokes, as Ko pointed out, are applicable even beyond the studio.

Chinese brush painting involves a variety of different techniques to create bamboo stalks, orchids, mountains and chrysanthemums. Each technique is in turn associated with certain feelings and emotions.

Ko spent time describing the philosophies behind each stroke.

“Artistic [eyes] always see more things,” Ko said. “Painting helps you appreciate the things around you. It’s very relaxing. When you are frustrated, paint bamboo. When you are happy, paint orchids. When you are calm, paint chrysanthemums.”

In many ways, this echoes the purpose of the Craft Center. The Center is open to all students to try and show that art is not just for design students.

“I’m artistic in general, but I think it’s a lot more fun to take art classes if you aren’t art majors because you get to actually enjoy it,” Tatiana Kulminskaya , a graduate student in analytics and regular attendee at Craft Center courses, said.

“It’s my last semester so I take courses at the Craft Center whenever I can,” Vineha Bhat , a graduate student in computer science, said. “I’ve always liked to paint. I like to paint because I do small things to give away, like in cards and such.”

Even though many students don’t have the materials to do Chinese brush painting on a regular basis, the class remains a beneficial experience.

“For me, it’s time to relax because when you are in school you are so busy,” Kulminskaya said. “Your mind is anywhere but somewhere relaxing. I also took the bead making class, which is also very relaxing.”

Many students often feel the need to be creative and search for a time and place to escape from the chaos of college life. For those with an artistic side, the Craft Center hopes to offer just that kind of escape.

For a full list of classes offered to students you can check the Craft Center website: http:// www.ncsu.edu /crafts/classes/ students_only.html .