Through the harmonious balancing of opposites, the ancient Chinese philosophy of yin yang is applied beautifully to the art of painting in an illuminating, results-oriented instructional for artists of all levels. Dividing the lessons into two sections, this book examines the traditional elements of painting and demonstrates major genres of painting. 140 illustrations, 125 in color.
Copperplate Script - A Yin & Yang Approach by Paul Antonio, is an innovative, new technology applied to an historical script. The script presented in this manual is not an historical hand, but a geometric construct to aid in a more exacting understanding of the script. This construct assists with writing a cleaner and more beautiful copperplate script.The Technology reintroduces a comprehensive terminology for the parts of the letters - words used by the English Writing Masters in their Copybooks, in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, as well as additional names augmented from the historical record. Geometry and physics are used to explain how a curve works and where it sits in relation to the baseline. This concept, then compares how a car or a bicycle tackles a roundabout.Learning the skeletal forms, similar to learning Roman Capitals, is a key part of the manual. The process begins with using a pencil first, followed by the nib.The over-arching concept of the technology utilises 4Fold Symmetry. There are four facets in the 4Fold Symmetry, all of which have 2 aspects; simple and complex. Angular Confinement is the first facet. It shows how confining the curves, inside a plane sided figure (in this case a parallelogram), is like drawing a square to plot a circle.Additional pages of study include an extensive list of difficult-to-write practise words, exemplars of numbers and variations, ligatures of double letters and ampersands. Sections on Brush Copperplate, Flourishing and its rules, as well as a glossary, augment this fine body of work.This manual offers an extensive, in-depth study of Copperplate Script suitable for any level of ability and an extraordinary resource for the beginner, intermediate or advanced calligrapher.
During the Ming Dynasty numerous new animal themes were created to convey political and ethical messages current at court. As the result a sophisticated language of Chinese animal painting was developed, employing both the animals' symbolic associations and homonymic puns. Hou-mei Sung's exciting rediscovery of some of these lost meanings has led to a full-scale investigation of the evolving history of Chinese animal painting. Distinct symbolic meanings were associated with individual motifs, but all animals were assigned a place in the universe according to the Chinese concept of nature. From the very early yin/yang cosmology to later developments of Daoist and Confucian philosophies and ethics, Chinese animals gained new meanings related to their historical contexts. This book explores these new findings, using the colorful animal images and their rich and evolving symbolic meanings to gain insight into unique aspects of Chinese art, as well as Chinese culture and history. Exhibition Schedule: Cincinnati Museum of Art (October 2009 - February 2010)
Opposites Mei and Wei may be small, but when they work together they are mighty enough to face a dragon. When a fearsome dragon takes over their village bridge, twin sisters Mei and Wei have opposing views of how to fix the problem. Wei wants nothing more than to confront that stinky old dragon head on, but Mei favors a more thoughtful approach. With Wei's confidence and gumption plus Mei's creativity and diligence, it's only a matter of time before everyone can be happy again. This empowering sibling story is about celebrating differences and finding that what makes us different is also what makes us a powerful team.
"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.
In May of 1985, an international symposium was held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in honor of John M. Crawford, Jr., whose gifts of Chinese calligraphy and painting have constituted a significant addition to the Museum's holdings. Over a three-day period, senior scholars from China, Japan, Taiwan, Europe, and the United States expressed a wide range of perspectives on an issue central to the history of Chinese visual aesthetics: the relationships between poetry, calligraphy, and painting. The practice of integrating the three art forms-known as san-chiieh, or the three perfections-in one work of art emerged during the Sung and Yuan dynasties largely in the context of literati culture, and it has stimulated lively critical discussion ever since. This publication contains twenty-three essays based on the papers presented at the Crawford symposium. Grouped by subject matter in a roughly chronological order, these essays reflect research on topics spanning two millennia of Chinese history. The result is an interdisciplinary exploration of the complex set of relationships between words and images by art historians, literary historians, and scholars of calligraphy. Their findings provide us with a new level of understanding of this rich and complicated subject and suggest further directions for the study of Chinese art history. The essays are accompanied by 255 illustrations, some of which reproduce works rarely published. Chinese characters have been provided throughout the text for artists names, terms, titles of works of art and literature, and important historical figures, as well as for excerpts of selected poetry and prose. A chronology, also containing Chinese characters, and an extensive index contribute to making this book illuminating and invaluable to both the specialist and the layman.
”SUMMER OFFER!!! NOW ONLY $4.99 Mandala Art Therapy includes 50 mandala inpired drawings to help you unwind from your daily routine. It is an enjoyable way to relax, creating a state of minfulness. You will feel your tensions melt away as you complete these beautiful mandalas. As the title suggest this book is made for all ages. Pick up your coloring pencils and start coloring!
