The Fine Art of Chinese Brush Painting

This extraordinary on-the-page class in brush painting explores both the technical and spiritual aspects of China’s ancient art, helping students to paint with confidence, skill, and understanding. Lavishly packed with breathtaking illustrations and detailed instructional photos, it discusses materials, styles, and themes, as well as special topics such as the influence of calligraphy on painting, the importance of arranging the workspace properly, and the use of a seal to “sign” the finished work. Each chapter is like a perfectly formed monograph rich in information on inks, papers, art utensils, holding the brush correctly, making exquisite-looking strokes and pictograms, applying color, and mastering the techniques for representing vegetation, animals, the human figure, portraits, and evocative landscapes. Well-constructed practice exercises complete this enlightening course.