# How does Lihuà combine Chinese calligraphy and watercolour?

**Lihuà began learning Chinese calligraphy at six and still practises it for two hours every morning. She applies its brush discipline (a single loaded stroke, varied pressure, no going back) to Western watercolour fashion illustration, and in some works brushes Chinese characters directly onto the page and finishes with a red seal stamp.**

You can see the brush logic most clearly in the ink-heavy [Strokes of Fashion](https://www.wmartegallery.com/collections/strokes-of-fashion) works such as [Brushworks 1](https://www.wmartegallery.com/works/strokes-of-fashion_brushworks-1_sof3), where a skirt explodes into black ink strokes, and in [Kick N Smash](https://www.wmartegallery.com/works/strokes-of-fashion_kick-n-smash-1_sof17).

Works with brushed characters include [Marilyn Monroe](https://www.wmartegallery.com/works/strokes-of-fashion_marilyn-monroe_s4), [Lavender Dress](https://www.wmartegallery.com/works/strokes-of-fashion_lavender-dress_s3) and [Legendary 2](https://www.wmartegallery.com/works/strokes-of-fashion_legendary-2_s2).

Sources:
- TheSmartLocal, 2023 (updated 2025): https://thesmartlocal.my/malaysian-illustration-artists/
- LUXUO, 13 Sep 2018: https://www.luxuo.sg/culture/art/calligraphy-artist-and-illustrator-lihua-wong-draws-her-way-into-fashion.html
- artoflihua.com · Lihuà: https://artoflihua.com/lihua/
- Free Malaysia Today, 23 Jul 2023: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2023/07/23/kedah-artist-li-hua-takes-busana-malaysia-to-the-world/

Source: WM Arte Gallery, https://www.wmartegallery.com/answers/chinese-calligraphy-and-watercolour (updated 2026-10-09)