Introduction To Chinese Painting

Explore the history of Chinese Painting techniques with artist Madeleine Pires. This Chinese brush painting session is a mixed ability class, suitable for experienced artists looking to experiment with a different technique, or beginners looking to create graceful and simple paintings. Programme This session will begin with a brief history of Chinese art looking at the main ways it differs from Western painting styles This will be followed by a demonstration of brush technique, correct handling and posture, leading to the first exercise which will finish in you painting a long flowing orchid stem, adding simple orchid flowers The second exercise teaches more techniques focusing on ink and dilution, adding watercolour You will then paint the “Four Gentlemen” – four plants used to teach the fundamental elements of Chinese brush painting: the plum blossom (梅), the bamboo (竹), and the chrysanthemum (菊) (the other plant is the orchid (蘭) previously used in exercise 1) They will look at what different trees and flowers represent in Chinese culture: e.g. strength, peace, purity etc They will also look at Chinese calligraphy and have a go at writing in Chinese using our paintbrushes From a number of different visual stimuli, we will choose our own subject matter to create a more detailed painting using the techniques we have learned, with a demonstration from the artist, feedback and group critiques.