"The ocean is essential to all," reads a sign written in Korean by calligrapher Myoung-Won Kwon, a resident of Maryland. The artist showcased his craft for visitors at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History during a May 2011 event in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Kwon works on scales small and large; one of his brushes is some four feet tall and he's created one piece that's 150 feet long. He says he draws some inspiration from nature, but more often philosophy and books.