Chinese Brush Painting

A second addition, also known as Ning Yeh's "Gold Edition" updates his original guide of step-by-step instructions for Chinese Brush Painting.

Try your hands at these historically and culturally important methods, and create some beautiful paintings of your own. Chinese painting is an ancient art that has evolved and become refined over many centuries. Artists brush ink and color pigments onto silk or paper using a variety of techniques, with two main approaches: gongbi a traditional and realistic style based on line drawing, and xieyi style, a freehand method that uses fewer strokes to suggest objects in a less literal way. Painting themes generally fall into three categories: figure, landscaping, and bird-and-flower. Chinese brush painting is mainly presented in lines, shades and white space to express the feelings about nature, social phenomena, and the very essence of the universe. The framework for this expression is often traditional: certain subjects carry cultural connotations that are well-known and imbue the painting with a layer of meaning beyond face value of objects shown. The traditional subjects such as mandarin ducks, butterflies, and the 'Four Gentlemen' (plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos, and chrysanthemum) are examples that contain this rich cultural meaning. Readers will learn first about the tools and materials, then painting techniques. Early pages explore the very basic painting methods and subjects—perfect for beginning painters—but continue to build skills for painting plants and animals of increasing complexity. Chinese Brush Painting illustrates several Chinese brush painting techniques with the use of different tools, brushwork and color mixing. With the step-by-step projects, you can first follow the introductory lessons to learn the necessary skills of brushwork, usage of paper, and characteristics of water, ink and colors; then follow the advanced lessons to learn the compositions and more complicated color applications.

“You’ll want to keep this book close to your painting table....Guides you from the beginning with information on the materials you need and the basic steps involved.”—Decorative Artist’s Workbook. “With the right instructions and a little time you can get very good results, and that’s what this book provides—step-by-step, manageable little steps to the goal.”—The Crafter’s Bookshelf.

Shows painters how to achieve the fluid, spontaneous style of Sumi-E, or Chinese brush painting, through 12 beautiful and inspiring projects.

The Art of Chinese Brush Painting is an excellent way for newcomers to experience this ancient Chinese art form. The book introduces traditional Chinese ink painting techniques developed over a thousand years ago. In 35 simple and intermediate lessons, readers will learn to paint towering landscapes; the elegant Four Generals: bamboo, orchid, plum blossom and chrysanthemum; rugged, steadfast pine; animals from the Chinese Zodiac; and basic strokes used in Chinese calligraphy. To better understand "the soft martial art," the book includes an introduction to the Chinese ink painting tradition and detailed discussion of brushes, paper and other tools and accessories. The lessons are instructive for artists at any level of expertise but are directed to the dedicated beginner.

Many Chinese brush-painting instruction books only focus on painting a few species of flowers, such as lotus, peony, and plum blossom, because these flowers symbolise various ideals in the Chinese culture. This book introduces painters to a variety of brushwork and floral painting techniques, and shows how to apply them to a diverse collection of flowers.

"How-to" manual provides all levels of students with detailed methods for painting such simple subjects as bamboo and plum blossoms as well as more ambitious motifs. 150 illustrations, including 82 in full color.

Chinese brush painting uses minimal strokes to describe the essence of a subject and capture its rhythm and grace. This beautiful book contains 200 exquisite motifs to re-create, from flowers and fruits to wildlife and scenery. This book starts with a brief history of Chinese painting styles, followed by a chapter on materials, tools, and basic techniques. The heart of the book is a directory of 200 motifs, starting with the "Four Gentlemen"â?¬â? the bamboo, orchid, plum, blossom and crysanthemum. Chinese painting courses usually begin with the Four Gentlemen because the wide range of strokes required to paint each of them provides a catalog of strokes that can then be used to paint any other subject.The Chinese Brush Painting Bible is especially designed for artists of all levels, beginner to advanced, who are looking to hone their skills in a specific style of artwork. The books are 6.5in x 8in, hardcover with an internal spiral binding so they lay open flat as readers follow the steps on their own canvas. This book is beautifully illustrated and contains hundreds of colorful pieces of artwork, photographs, and helpful diagrams. Step-by-step instructions help guide artists through the learning process.