"Together the text and illustrations gradually reveal many of the major themes and characteristics of Chinese painting. To "read" these works is to enter a dialogue with the past. Slowly perusing a scroll or album, one shares an intimate experience that has been repeated over the centuries. And it is through such readings that meaning is gradually revealed."--BOOK JACKET.
Critics have been too quick to dismiss the relevance of Chinese painting to modern art. This guide redresses the balance by assessing the history of Chinese art in terms of Oriental, not Western, aesthetic principles. T.C. Lai examines the brush-and-ink techniques at the heart of traditional painting, its close relationship to calligraphy, and the fascinating tension between type-form and inspiration, symbol, and likeness that has characterized the development of Chinese art. Copiously illustrated with full-color plates, this book is a fascinating, sumptuous introduction to an important and vital art tradition.
Applying a comparative approach to Chinese and Western art, this book examines the characteristics of traditional Chinese art and analyses the distinction between figure painting and portraiture. It examines the scenery in Chinese landscape painting and the sense of poetry within the paintings of flowers and birds so that the reader comes to understand the unique essence of Chinese art and is gradually led towards the ethereal world of spiritual abstraction displayed in Chinese painting. The author relates the development of Chinese painting to the pursuit of the conceptual sense (yijing) found in Chinese philosophy and classical literature. She describes how Confucianism determined the content of the development of painting while Daoism guided the concept of aestheticism within it. Professor Law also examines the way in which differences of method and media profoundly influenced the artistic outcome producing the western skills in the handling of color and light and shade, and in China the imaginative use of ink on paper. All this is reflected in numerous illustrations ranging from Van Gogh to the great Chinese painters of all the different dynasties from the early Jin dynasty to the Ming and Qing dynasties.After reading this book, readers will follow the author' s rich experience in Chinese painting to understand the characteristics of the different genres of Chinese painting and be able to deeply appreciate the inner meaning of Chinese painting.
"This beautiful book is a guide to painting birds, blossoms, butterflies using the classic Chinese brush painting techniques. All techniques are clearly illustrated with detailed instructions and suitable for people of all ages and artistic abilities to follow. Chinese Brush Painting is an art: both in form and thought. Stephen Cassettari is masterful in how he presents the art and the philosophy behind it in such an easy to read way."--Wheelers.co.nz
Capture the beauty and vitality of Chinese painting in your watercolors! Using a few brushes, some rice paper and a small number of inks and paints, you can explore new realms of artistic expression in your watercolors. Author and artist Lian Quan Zhen shows you how, providing you with the clear, practical instruction you need to master every element of this intriguing style - from holding a bamboo brush to applying Chinese composition techniques. Zhen makes learning easy with step-by-step instructions that enable you to apply brushstrokes with strength and confidence - a skill that will carry over into your everyday watercolor work. And you'll find inspiration in Zhen's own works of art - ranging from egrets in flight to gracefully swimming koi - as you discover the best techniques of the East and West. He'll show you that the beauty of fine art crosses every border and that your artistic journey has no limits.