Chinese Painting:

Objective:

1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the Chinese painting methods, materials, and brush techniques to create a Chinese painting.
2. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the elements and principles of design.
3. Students will demonstrate their understanding of styles, stylistic influence, and stylistic change by identifying when and where artworks were created, and by analyzing characteristic features of artworks from various historical periods, cultures, and genres.

Six principles of Chinese Painting

1. " Spirit of Mind,"-Painting from the “mind and heart” was to connect the artist to nature. ( The link between the inner nature with outer nature) ( Zen)

Three major categories in Chinese painting:

Landscape (山水)
Figure (人物)
Bird and Flower (花鳥)

2. Brush Technique. similar to learning how to write calligraphy, painters had to learn particular brush strokes to create forms. A simple stroke had to be right.

artwork by Ms.Tsai

3. Symbolic of the Object. The artist did not look at a subject but represented it as a form (symbolic expression). For example, the whole plant may not be painted, but rather a few blossoms to represent the whole plant.

4. Emptiness Composition. Use the emptiness space to placing and arrange composition.

5. The application of color in tones and values. Host- largest, strongest and darker part of the object. Guests- smaller and lighter.

6. The copying of masterworks, not only from life but also the works of antiquity. Copying other artists were encouraged.

Chinese Painting Examples The Four GentlemenThe plum blossom, representing winter, is also symbolic of endurance as it often flowers when the snow is still on the ground. The flowers, which may be pink or white, appear before the leaves and this is how they are depicted in paintings.

The symbol of spring is the orchid, which represents spring, also signifies virtue and simple beauty. It is the delicate wild orchids that are referred to as they tend to grow in inaccessible areas such as crevices in rocks overlooking rivers or streams, and you could easily walk past without noticing them.

The bamboo is the symbol of summer but also of strength, both physical and mental, as it will bend and sway in the severest of gales but does not break. Its hollow trunk means humility. Bamboo, together with plum blossom and pine are also known as the ‘Three Friends in Winter’, as pine and bamboo are evergreens and the plum blooms in the cold.

The chrysanthemum, which represents autumn, is thought of as a happiness and vitality, preferring autumn, which is less crowded with flowers than the profusion in spring.

Artist: Ms. Gloria Tsai

We are inviting a local Chinese painting Artist:

Ms. Gloria Tsai

Her Chinese given name is 蔡宜芸，She also styles herself: 榮卿

Bio:

With a specialty in the sociology of art, Dr. Tsai has always been interested in how art shapes social life and vice versa. Growing up in Taiwan, she had some schooling in Chinese calligraphy, which offers her an opportunity to enter into the world of traditional Chinese painting. She began to teach traditional Chinese brush painting at Lexington Chinese school in 2020. She has participated in local art exhibitions such as Andover Chinese New Year Exhibition, Andover Pop Art Gallery, and Bedford Art Show. She is currently a member of Bedford Arts and Crafts Society.

Ms. Tsai is well known to present her Chinese painting with harmony and balance.

Ms. Tsai's professional website:

https://ascendingcloud.art/

What are we learning:

Camellia Japonice 山茶花 and Rabbit 兔子

Why camellia?

The camellia is often a symbol of strong love. Deep red camellias can symbolize passion, love, romance, and desire.

Why Rabbit ?

artwork by Ms. Gloria Tsai

HW assignment:

Sketch Camellia Japonice 山茶花 in pencil

Rubric:

1. use a Camellia Japonice 山茶花 image online reference

2. Simplify the reference to 3-5 branches

3. Draw 3-8 flowers that includes one full top view of a flower, one side view of the flower. 4. 4. Arrange all flowers in different directions.

5. Composition of the drawing should demonstrate the following components : off the center, rotation, crop out, and emptiness.

6. The Camellia Japonica 山茶花is the foreground, and the rabbit is in the background. The size of Camellia Japonica 山茶花 should be larger( zoom in) because it is in the foreground. The rabbit should be in a smaller size since it is in a distance.

7. When using ink must demonstrate different brusk strokes

8. Must demonstrate the application of colors in tones and values.

9. Include some good meaningful Chinese writing to and sign your Chinese name.

The picture you may find online :

then you Simplify, using the composition elements to finish the drawing. Composition elements: off-center, crop out, rotation. Leave emptiness space for writing and bunny / animal.