Bonzai Tree Drawing

Watercolour and ink on rice paper (Sumi-e). 38 x 26 cm.

Lilith Ohan (born Ohannessian) is a Canadian artist who was born in Yerevan, Armenia. At the age of 20, Lilith immigrated to Montreal where she continued her studies in biology. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from Sir George Williams University (presently Concordia University), she worked as a research assistant at McGill University where she used light and electron microscopes as investigative tools to observe the symbiosis of living organisms, their inexorable interrelation and vitality yet simplistic design. Initially, her art developed out of this understanding and she was greatly inspired by the organic shapes of the microscopic world as well as plant and animal forms. She then pursued her studies in the Arts and in 1986 she graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art.

Her search for self-expression with minimal elements to produce maximum content led her to Sumi-e or Japanese brush painting. Lilith started taking lessons from the noted Japanese artist/teacher Tomoko Kodama, whose breathing brush method opened a new avenue of self-expression for her.

With her Sumi-e practice, her interests moved towards Eastern philosophies, teachings and practices such as Tai Chi, Taoism and Zen Buddhism. With this new awareness, Lilith developed her own unique language of painting and drawing, combining an ancient Eastern painting style with Western sensibilities and aesthetics.