Excerpted from Wilson Huang's Website.
The Six principles of Chinese painting were established by Xie He, a writer, art historian and critic in 6th century China. He is most famous for his "Six points to consider when judging a painting", taken from the preface to his book "The Record of the Classification of Old Painters". Keep in mind that this was written circa 550 A.D. and refers to "old" and "ancient" practices. The six elements that define a painting are:
"Spirit Resonance," or vitality, and seems to translate to the nervous energy transmitted from the artist into the work. The overall energy of a work of art. Xie He said that without Spirit Resonance, there was no need to look further.
"Bone Method," or the way of using the brush. This refers not only to texture and brush stroke, but to the close link between handwriting and personality. In his day, the art of calligraphy was inseparable from painting.
"Correspondence to the Object," or the depicting of form, which would include shape and line.
"Suitability to Type," or the application of color, including layers, value and tone.
"Division and Planning," or placing and arrangement, corresponding to composition, depth and most important of all, space.
"Transmission by Copying," or the copying of models, not only from life but also the works of antiquity.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Things To Avoid In Chinese Painting
Excerpted from Wilson Huang's Website. (Cool landscapes! Check it out!)
To avoid is a crowded, ill-arranged composition (composition)
Far and near not clearly distinguished (composition)
Mountains without Chi, the pulse of life
Referring not only to the need for pictorial vitality created by composition with a quality of spirit, particularly since mountains were symbols of life. Of the Yang(of Heaven and the Spirit)
Water with no indication of its source
The element regarded as a source of life and associated with the Yin.
Scenes lacking any places made inaccessible by nature(natural and logical)
Where man has ventured, paths are a sign of his presence and should naturally lead somewhere.
Paths with no indication of beginning and end
Stones and rocks with one face
The rock has 3 faces, referring to the third dimension and technical skill in rendering it .
The tree has four main branches and is represented as having solidity, roundness, and unity
Trees with less than four main branches
Figures unnaturally distorted
Emphasize fitness based on naturalness, contributing to the harmony of the parts and the whole of a painting. Figures not only should be undistorted but should be shown in action, their position and mood in tune with the rest of the painting and thus with the order of nature.
Buildings and pavilions inappropriately placed
Houses, pavilions, bridges, waterwheels, or boats, never overshadow other elements in the picture but contribute to its main theme, usually some aspect of nature rather than of human activity.
Atmospheric effects of mist and clearness neglected
Color applied without method
Mountains and water are not only the main structural elements in a landscape painting, but serve as symbols of the Yin and Yang. They are structural ideas, hence the significance of the term ShanShui (mountain water) for landscape pictures.
"Shih Erh Chi", quoted from a XIII-century work by Jao Tzu-jan
To avoid is a crowded, ill-arranged composition (composition)
Far and near not clearly distinguished (composition)
Mountains without Chi, the pulse of life
Referring not only to the need for pictorial vitality created by composition with a quality of spirit, particularly since mountains were symbols of life. Of the Yang(of Heaven and the Spirit)
Water with no indication of its source
The element regarded as a source of life and associated with the Yin.
Scenes lacking any places made inaccessible by nature(natural and logical)
Where man has ventured, paths are a sign of his presence and should naturally lead somewhere.
Paths with no indication of beginning and end
Stones and rocks with one face
The rock has 3 faces, referring to the third dimension and technical skill in rendering it .
The tree has four main branches and is represented as having solidity, roundness, and unity
Trees with less than four main branches
Figures unnaturally distorted
Emphasize fitness based on naturalness, contributing to the harmony of the parts and the whole of a painting. Figures not only should be undistorted but should be shown in action, their position and mood in tune with the rest of the painting and thus with the order of nature.
Buildings and pavilions inappropriately placed
Houses, pavilions, bridges, waterwheels, or boats, never overshadow other elements in the picture but contribute to its main theme, usually some aspect of nature rather than of human activity.
Atmospheric effects of mist and clearness neglected
Color applied without method
Mountains and water are not only the main structural elements in a landscape painting, but serve as symbols of the Yin and Yang. They are structural ideas, hence the significance of the term ShanShui (mountain water) for landscape pictures.
"Shih Erh Chi", quoted from a XIII-century work by Jao Tzu-jan
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Calligraphy
Video Demonstrations By Haiying Yang
Calligraphy In Painting
What Is Written On The Brush
Calligraphy: The Basic Strokes
Calligraphy In Painting
What Is Written On The Brush
Calligraphy: The Basic Strokes
Calligraphy: Mr. William Jiang's Demonstrations
Professor William Jiang
Calligraphy: Dance Victory
Calligraphy: Eternity (Yong)
Calligraphy: A Poem
Calligraphy: Dance Victory
Calligraphy: Eternity (Yong)
Calligraphy: A Poem
Roses By Haiying: Coloured
Video Demonstration by Haiying Yang
Rose, coloured, structure and outline
Rose, coloured, a little slower this time.
Rose, coloured, structure and outline
Rose, coloured, a little slower this time.
Roses By Haiying 4: Wilting Rose
Video Demonstrations By Haiying Yang
I was worried that this was how Haiying felt after all the things she has done for the group, but she says it was a viewer request. I sure hope so. We love you, Haiying! :-D
The Wilting Rose
I was worried that this was how Haiying felt after all the things she has done for the group, but she says it was a viewer request. I sure hope so. We love you, Haiying! :-D
The Wilting Rose
Monday, August 20, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Chinese Language and Calligraphy
Video Demonstrations By Haiying Yang
Calligraphy: Numbers
Calligraphy: Directions and Seasons
Calligraphy: Part of the Body
Calligraphy: Orientation (In, Inside, Out, Behind...stuff like that.)
Calligraphy and Language: Plants and ANimals
Calligraphy and Language: The Chinese Zodiac
Calligraphy: Numbers
Calligraphy: Directions and Seasons
Calligraphy: Part of the Body
Calligraphy: Orientation (In, Inside, Out, Behind...stuff like that.)
Calligraphy and Language: Plants and ANimals
Calligraphy and Language: The Chinese Zodiac
Calligraphy: Sayings
Some sayings as demonstrated by our Haiying Yang. Use them for mood seals, or paint them on your paintings.
Sayings
Relax and Rest.
Carpe Diem: Cherish the Day
Be true to your self
Sayings
Relax and Rest.
Carpe Diem: Cherish the Day
Be true to your self
Friday, August 17, 2007
Calligraphy with a Big, Big Brush. And I mean BIG.
This is Master Chong. He lives in Ka Fook mansion, an estate for elderly Chinese in Rotterdam. And I think he's having fun.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
More on Brushes: Brush Shape and Strokes plus Inside A Brush
Some of the probable reasons your bamboo doesn't spring back into shape when you lift it. I can see all the reasons I couldn't make a decent bamboo leaf for the longest time. Yes, I needed this one very much. And I'm editorializing again.
Brush stroke troubleshooting for beginners
A look inside a brush.
Brush stroke troubleshooting for beginners
A look inside a brush.
Found it again!
The bamboo forest. It isn't quite Chinese brush painting, but it's bamboo. Hehe. Juat putting it here before I lose it again.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Beginning to Paint: Back to Basics From Haiying
If you're a beginner like me, and have no access yet to a Sumi-e or Chinese Brush Painting teacher, these new videos from our dear friend Haiying Yang can clear a lot of questions in your mind. She demonstrates everything from start to finish, including how to choose good materials to use in your painting.
Grinding the Ink: About The Inkstone.
More about grinding ink, and holding the brush in this previous post.
Video Demonstrations by Haiying Yang
Grinding the Ink: About The Inkstone.
More about grinding ink, and holding the brush in this previous post.
Video Demonstrations by Haiying Yang
Beginning Chinese Brush Painting: Inksticks 1
Grinding the Ink: Kinds of inksticks and how to choose the good ones.
Video Demonstrations by Haiying Yang
Video Demonstrations by Haiying Yang
Beginning To Paint: About Brushes 1
Video Demonstrations by Haiying Yang
Getting Ready to Paint: How to choose the right brushes for your Chinese brush painting.
Inside A Brush
Haiying shows us what a good brush is made of, inside and out.
Getting Ready to Paint: How to choose the right brushes for your Chinese brush painting.
Inside A Brush
Haiying shows us what a good brush is made of, inside and out.
Beginning Chinese Brush Painting: Basic Strokes
Video Demonstration by Haiying Yang.
Basic Strokes.
Troubleshooting the Bamboo Leaf (or some reasons why your brush doesn't spring back into shape.)
Yes, I needed this one very much. And I'm editorializing again.
Basic Strokes.
Troubleshooting the Bamboo Leaf (or some reasons why your brush doesn't spring back into shape.)
Yes, I needed this one very much. And I'm editorializing again.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Beginning Chinese Brush Painting: The Plum
Video Demonstration By Haiying Yang
Basic Traditional Strokes: The Plum Tree, Branch and Blossoms
The third gentleman of Chinese brush painting and Sumi-e is the Plum. It blooms in late winter, thus symbolizing hope and hardiness, someone who can create beauty in the midst of hardship. It is interesting to note that the gnarled and rugged branches are rigid, sharp, even rough, while the blossoms themselves are rounded and soft.
And the books I'm reading say it's really an apricot.Hehe.
Basic Traditional Strokes: The Plum Tree, Branch and Blossoms
The third gentleman of Chinese brush painting and Sumi-e is the Plum. It blooms in late winter, thus symbolizing hope and hardiness, someone who can create beauty in the midst of hardship. It is interesting to note that the gnarled and rugged branches are rigid, sharp, even rough, while the blossoms themselves are rounded and soft.
And the books I'm reading say it's really an apricot.Hehe.
Beginning Chinese Brush Painting: The Chrysanthemum
Video Demonstration By Haiying Yang
Basic Traditional Strokes: Chrysanthemum
The last of the four gentlemne of Chinese brush painting and Sumi-e is the chrysanthemum. It blooms in early fall, and to uses the strokes learned while painting the bamboo, the orchid and the plum. In Chinese painting, it is supposed the symbolize the common man, good and unpretentious, while in Japan, it is the crest of the Imperial Family. Hm.
And the flowers shoo away bugs, especially mosquitoes.
Basic Traditional Strokes: Chrysanthemum
The last of the four gentlemne of Chinese brush painting and Sumi-e is the chrysanthemum. It blooms in early fall, and to uses the strokes learned while painting the bamboo, the orchid and the plum. In Chinese painting, it is supposed the symbolize the common man, good and unpretentious, while in Japan, it is the crest of the Imperial Family. Hm.
And the flowers shoo away bugs, especially mosquitoes.
Beginning Chinese Brush Painting: Bamboo
Basic Traditional Strokes: The Bamboo
Video Demonstration by Haiying Yang
The second of The Four Gentlemen is the graceful and resilient bamboo. It bends, it sways, but does not break. Instead, it springs back. It is the symbol of summer, and represents strength, integrity, vitality, and the spirit that endures in adversity.
Kind of hard to believe it's really a grass. Me, I just really like bamboos. Except for the thorns.
More ways to paint bamboo, from Haiying in this previous entry.
Video Demonstration by Haiying Yang
The second of The Four Gentlemen is the graceful and resilient bamboo. It bends, it sways, but does not break. Instead, it springs back. It is the symbol of summer, and represents strength, integrity, vitality, and the spirit that endures in adversity.
Kind of hard to believe it's really a grass. Me, I just really like bamboos. Except for the thorns.
More ways to paint bamboo, from Haiying in this previous entry.
Phaleanopsis Orchids.
While the traditional orchid is a gentleman, I tend to think of Phales as elegant ladies, sitting at a drawing room--who are, maybe, painting. I have four of them outside my window, though. Two are purple, two are white. Not that I'm really an orchid person.
Freestyle Phalaeanopsis
More of dear Haiying's Orchid demonstrations in
Freestyle Phalaeanopsis
More of dear Haiying's Orchid demonstrations in
Beginning Chinese Brush Painting: Orchid
Basic Traditional Strokes: The Orchid
Video Demonstration By Haiying Yang
The Orchid is one of "The Four Gentlemen" of Chinese Brush Painting and Sumi-e, the strokes that serve as the basic building blocks of your painting and calligraphy. They say that that artists who have been painting for years sometimes use these strokes to warm up, just like musicians practice their scales.
Unlike the modern orchids with showy flowers, the traditional Asian orchid is simple yet elegant, with one small, perfect, fragrant flower at the end of each stalk with graceful leaves swaying in the wind.
The Orchid is the symbol of spring, which is when it blooms. And it is said that because this orchid blooms in hard-to-reach places such as mountains, forests and cliffs, this represents the modest gentleman of purity and refinement.
I suppose, it is a lot like spring: easy, breezy and undemanding.
More of dear Haiying's Orchid demonstrations in these previous posts.
Video Demonstration By Haiying Yang
The Orchid is one of "The Four Gentlemen" of Chinese Brush Painting and Sumi-e, the strokes that serve as the basic building blocks of your painting and calligraphy. They say that that artists who have been painting for years sometimes use these strokes to warm up, just like musicians practice their scales.
Unlike the modern orchids with showy flowers, the traditional Asian orchid is simple yet elegant, with one small, perfect, fragrant flower at the end of each stalk with graceful leaves swaying in the wind.
The Orchid is the symbol of spring, which is when it blooms. And it is said that because this orchid blooms in hard-to-reach places such as mountains, forests and cliffs, this represents the modest gentleman of purity and refinement.
I suppose, it is a lot like spring: easy, breezy and undemanding.
More of dear Haiying's Orchid demonstrations in these previous posts.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Preparing a new brush.
What to do with a new Chinese brush, and how to first use it, how much ink to use, and putting it away when you're done.
Video demonstration by Haiying Yang
Video demonstration by Haiying Yang
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