1500 Chinese Design Motifs

These crisp, black-and-white images will lend a distinctive Far Eastern accent to any project. Hundreds of eye-catching images include geometrics, abstracts, optical illusions, plus other intriguing configurations that adapt easily for use as spot illustrations or as repeating patterns. Professional and amateur artists, illustrators, and designers will find this inexpensive treasury a priceless source of royalty-free inspiration.

284 Chinese motifs — flowers and plants, animal life, and more. 100 plates.

Dragons, fish, flowers, and foo dogs abound in this magnificent compilation of Chinese designs and motifs. An exotic archive of permission-free art, this volume offers 361 crisp black-and-white images in a wide variety of shapes and sizes that adapt themselves easily to use as spot illustrations, borders, and a host of other possibilities. Certain to lend a distinctive Far Eastern accent to any project, these evocative images will prove a treasury of inspiration for illustrators, graphic artists, and crafters.

This book presents over 700 Chinese motifs, showcasing 35 outstanding works inspired by Peking Opera, Paper Cutting, Animal Motifs and Auspicious Motifs, etc. Well-known designers were invited to share their design inspiration and experience concerning Chinese motifs to offer an insight into traditional Chinese culture. CD-ROM (1. The facial make-up in Chinese opera, 2. Chinese paper cutting, 3. New year painting, 4. The auspicious pattern, 5. The animal motif, 6. Plants and flowers motif).--

Written with reader accessibility in mind, this comprehensive handbook of symbolism in Chinese art and culture will be an invaluable resource for any student of Eastern art history, Chinese arts and crafts, and anyone interested in commonly held Chinese beliefs and their origins. In Chinese Symbolism & Art Motifs Fourth Edition, scholar C.A.S. Williams offers concise explanations of the essential symbols and motifs relevant to Chinese literature, arts & crafts, and architecture. This reference book has been a standard among students of Chinese culture and history since 1941 and, in its Fourth Edition, has been completely reset with Pinyin pronunciation of Chinese names and words. Organized alphabetically, enhanced by over 400 illustrations, and clearly written for accessibility across a variety of fields, this book not only explains symbols and motifs essential to any designer, art collector, or historian, but delves into ancient customs in religion, food, agriculture, and medicine. Some of the symbols and motifs explicated are: The Eight Immortals The Five Elements The Dragon The Phoenix Yin and Yang With Chinese Symbolism & Art Motifs, you can access hidden insights into the intentions behind works of Chinese craftsmanship, and the thorough explanations of each symbol accompanied by the historical origins from which they arose. It will complement your existing knowledge of any area of Chinese culture, or help you confidently explore new topics within the realm of Asian art and history.

Recognized internationally for their subtlety, delicate lines, and enduring beauty, artistic Chinese designs have long been regarded as more than simple ornamentation. The distinctive motifs represented in this superb collection of 218 royalty-free patterns are typical of a vital art tradition that is experiencing a worldwide renaissance in popularity. Selected from various illustrated booklets published throughout the People's Republic of China and in Hong Kong, these motifs are derived from a vast selection of Chinese artifacts ? dating from prehistoric pottery to the present day. Many of the patterns, which come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles, were originally conceived for decorating textiles, ceramics, metalwork, woodcarvings, basketry, and cut paper, in addition to carved stone, tiles, and other architectural elements. Commercial artists and graphic designers will find an abundant supply of useful borders, frames, and corners, as well as intricate floral displays that include peonies, lotus, chrysanthemums, pine, bamboo, and plum blossoms. Also available in this unique collection are real and fabulous Chinese animals, cloud and water motifs, geometric and abstract patterns, ideographs, and more.

With over 630 striking color photos and illustrations this Chinese art guide focuses on the rich tapestry of symbolism which makes up the basis of traditional Chinese art. Chinese Art: A Guide to Motifs and Visual Imagery includes detailed commentary and historical background information for the images that continuously reappear in the arts of China, including specific plants and animals, religious beings, mortals and inanimate objects. The book thoroughly illuminates the origins, common usages and diverse applications of popular Chinese symbols in a tone that is both engaging and authoritative. Chinese Art: A Guide to Motifs and Visual Imagery is an essential reference for collectors, museum-goers, guides, students and anyone else with a serious interest in the culture and history of China.

With motifs ranging from 1300 B.C. to the 19th century, here is a remarkable volume of 313 black-and-white designs from one of the world's richest artistic traditions: blossoms, birds, wildlife, medallions, dragons, and more.