Chinese Painting- Dragon 龍 and Lanterns 燈籠
Objective:
1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the Chinese painting methods, materials, and brush techniques to express the cultural essence of the Chinese New Year.2. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design.
3. Students will demonstrate their understanding of Chinese styles, stylistic influence, and stylistic change 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.
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4. Emptiness Composition. Use the emptiness space to place 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 from the works of antiquity. Copying other artists was encouraged.
Chinese Painting Examples 
The Four Gentlemen
The 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 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 offered her an opportunity to enter 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 the Andover Chinese New Year Exhibition, Andover Pop Art Gallery, and Bedford Art Show. She is currently a member of the Bedford Arts and Crafts Society.
Ms. Tsai is well known for presenting her Chinese paintings with harmony and balance.
Ms. Tsai's professional website:
Chinese painting :
Dragons and Lanterns for Chinese New Year Celebration Dragon 龍 and Lantern 燈籠
Why Dragon?
The year 2004 is the year of the Dragon in zodiac sign. The dragon is a mythical creature that has long been the most important symbol of
power in China. A Chinese dragon can fly in the high sky and also swim in the deep ocean. While in the West dragons are depicted as evil, in association with the Chinese culture, dragons are seen as friendly, helpful, and good luck.
What are the characters and cultural meanings of a Chinese Dragon?
- Dragons are deeply rooted symbols in Chinese culture and have long been associated with the emperor. The imperial throne is called the dragon seat and the emperor's ceremonial robes are called dragon robes.
- The Chinese dragon is depicted as a combination of a number of animals. It is thought to have the horns of a deer, the eye of a lobster, the nose of a cow, the mouth of a wolf, the whiskers of a catfish, the mane of a lion, the body of a snake, the abdomen of a large clam, the scales of fish creatures, the claws of an eagle, and the paws of a tiger, the tail of a fire ring.
- Dragons are believed to have the power to provide rain for growing crops. 祈龍求雨.
- In China, dragons are a very popular motif and appear on clothing, signs, flags, and in the shape of kites; life-sized puppets of dragons are an important part of many traditional festivals( Chinese New Year celebration, Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Folk temple fairs)
- Chinese New Year Luna 1/1 -dragon dance
- Lantern festival - Luna calerder 1/15
- The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival takes place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar
month (usually around the summer solstice in June).
- Folk temple fairs
Why Red Lanterns?
The Red Lanterns is often symbols of wealth, fame, and prosperity, which is why festivals, wedding, and other celebrations often have a lot of red decorations. Most Chinese lanterns are red, and lanterns of red color symbolize a prosperous business and a thriving life.
Dragon and Lanterns Sketch Assignment
Objective:
1. Sketch a Chinese dragon and one or few large lanterns in the foreground and several small lanterns in the background on a 12X18 paper 长方形纸 to express the cultural essence of the 2024 Chinese New Year of dragon picture.
2. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design.
3. Use this sketch to be a reference for learning Chinese painting.
Rubric:
Composition and Propotion
1. Schetch a Chinese dragon with the following features.
3. Use the overlapping concept to arrange your objects. The dragon can be in front of the red lanterns or go around the lanterns. The foreground image should cover half of the 12x18 paper.
4. Arrange the dragon and the large lanterns in a rotation podition to express a moving motion.
5. Draw many faraway small lanterns in the background that appear to be a celebration scenery.
6. Save the empty space for the Chinese blessing words and your Chinese signature.
7. A portion of the object cropped out by the edges of a paper is an excellent composition. Cropping out an image draws a viewer's eyes to the subject and changes the size of the object to a large and clear view.
Color and Value :
1. Bright colors to express Chinese New Year colors of gold, silver, red, orange, and yellow.
2. Use the highlight and shadow method to create the application of colors in tones and values to form the 3D quality of the lanterns.
Line:
1. Using bend lines and curvy lines to form the objects to create a 3D appearance for the lanterns and the dragon.
2. Use gold and silver to depict the details of the dragon.
Ink value( tones)
When using ink must demonstrate different brush strokes and values.
Blessing words and signature:
Include some good meaningful Chinese blessing words and sign your Chinese name.
How to draw a Chinese dragon?
Ms. Cia's example of a dragon
The picture you may find online might be complicated, simplify it as needed.
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How to draw a lantern?
Materials will be used for the Chinese painting project:
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Make sure:
1. use the materials with gentle care
2. clean all materials( brushes, watercolor paint palette, ink dish)
3. Return materials back to the original place.
4. Place all your artwork on the drying rack with your name on it.
