Traditionally trained in Chinese Calligraphy, Margaret Moholt showcases her skilled artworks this September in the Arts Visalia Feature Gallery.
VIRTUAL TOURFriday, September 5, 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Opening Reception featuring Sugarlicious Visalia
Saturday, September 6, 2:45 pm: Artist Talk
Margaret was born in China and grew up in Taiwan. She immigrated to the United States in 1979 and lived in Texas for eleven years before the Moholt family settled in Visalia in 1990. Trained in accounting, Margaret built her career in the field while embracing the spirit of volunteerism that deeply impressed her as an immigrant. She generously shared her time and expertise with many nonprofit organizations, expressing her gratitude to the wonderful people around her and contributing to the well-being of the community she proudly calls home.
Margaret retired in 2011 from the Tulare County Office of Education. Shortly afterward, she enrolled in the Chinese Brush Painting class at Arts Visalia, taught by Joy Harvey. Joy’s passion for teaching and her dedication to the art of Chinese painting left a lasting impact on many students and was deeply appreciated until her departure in 2024.
According to the Asian Art Museum:
“Chinese calligraphy and brush painting, particularly when using black ink, are deeply intertwined and share foundational principles and materials. Both emphasize the expressive potential of brushstrokes and the controlled variations of ink wash to capture the essence and spirit of the subject. The use of a flexible brush, capable of producing a wide range of line thicknesses and effects, is central to both art forms. The interplay between brush, ink (traditionally in stick form, ground on an inkstone with water to create varying tones), and the absorbent paper or silk is crucial in achieving the desired results.”
Margaret’s Chinese calligraphy training in Taiwan provided a foundation for her brush painting, with Joy Harvey’s guidance she applied the acquired strokes and techniques to her brush painting.