Introduction to Chinese Painting

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)
• We will look at what different trees and flowers represent in Chinese culture: e.g. strength, peace, purity etc
• We 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

Tutor: Madeleine Pires Dates: Sunday 10th December, 12pm - 4pm (£65 for 1 day workshop) Venue: BOLD Place 8 Bold Place, Liverpool L1 9DN Cost £65 for 1 day workshop Materials you will need to bring: Set of 3 Chinese paintbrushes pad of A4 watercolour paper or rice paper Plain printer paper for practicing Chinese ink A palette or saucer with dividers A pipette water pot If possible, a small watercolour set containing red, yellow, blue and green.