History of Chinese Ink Painting
Chinese Ink painting is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world. Painting in the traditional style is known today in Chinese as guóhuà (simplified Chinese: 国画; traditional Chinese: 國畫), meaning “national” or “native painting”, as opposed to Western styles of art which became popular in China in the 20th century. Traditional painting involves essentially the same techniques as calligraphy and is done with a brush dipped in black ink or coloured pigments; oils are not used. As with calligraphy, the most popular materials on which paintings are made are paper and silk. The finished work can be mounted on scrolls, such as hanging scrolls or handscrolls. Traditional painting can also be done on album sheets, walls, lacquerware, folding screens, and other media.
Techniques in Chinese Ink Painting
The two main techniques in Chinese painting are:
- Gongbi(工筆), meaning “meticulous”, uses highly detailed brushstrokes that delimit details very precisely. It is often highly coloured and usually depicts figural or narrative subjects. It is often practised by artists working for the royal court or in independent workshops.
- Ink and wash painting, in Chinese shuǐ-mò (水墨, “water and ink”) also loosely termed watercolour or brush painting, and also known as “literati painting”, as it was one of the “Four Arts” of the Chinese Scholar-official. In theory this was an art practiced by gentlemen, a distinction that begins to be made in writings on art from the Song dynasty, though in fact the careers of leading exponents could benefit considerably. This style is also referred to as “xieyi” (寫意) or freehand style.
Landscape painting was regarded as the highest form of Chinese painting, and generally still is. The time from the Five Dynasties period to the Northern Song period (907–1127) is known as the “Great age of Chinese landscape”. In the north, artists such as Jing Hao, Li Cheng, Fan Kuan, and Guo Xi painted pictures of towering mountains, using strong black lines, ink wash, and sharp, dotted brushstrokes to suggest rough stone. In the south, Dong Yuan, Juran, and other artists painted the rolling hills and rivers of their native countryside in peaceful scenes done with softer, rubbed brushwork. These two kinds of scenes and techniques became the classical styles of Chinese landscape painting.
Six Principles of Chinese Ink Painting
The “Six principles of Chinese painting” were established by Xie He, a writer, art historian and critic in 5th century China, in “Six points to consider when judging a painting” (繪畫六法), taken from the preface to his book “The Record of the Classification of Old Painters” (古畫品錄). Keep in mind that this was written circa 550 CE and refers to “old” and “ancient” practices. The six elements that define a painting are:
- “Spirit Resonance”, or vitality, which refers to the flow of energy that encompasses theme, work, and artist. Xie He said that without Spirit Resonance, there was no need to look further.
- “Bone Method”, or the way of using the brush, refers not only to texture and brush stroke, but to the close link between handwriting and personality. In his day, the art of calligraphy was inseparable from painting.
- “Correspondence to the Object”, or the depicting of form, which would include shape and line.
- “Suitability to Type”, or the application of color, including layers, value, and tone.
- “Division and Planning”, or placing and arrangement, corresponding to composition, space, and depth.
- “Transmission by Copying”, or the copying of models, not from life only but also from the works of antiquity.
Masterpieces of Chinese Ink Painting:
Qi Bai Shi (1 January 1864, Xiangtan, China to 16 September 1957, Beijing, China):
Qi Baishi, AQUATIC LIFE AND CHICKS
Qi Baishi (1864-1957), MORNING GLORY
Zhang DaQian (10 May 1899, Neijiang, China to 2 April 1983, Taipei, Taiwan)
Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), LOTUS IN THE WIND
Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), TWO VIRTUOUS TOKENS
Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), BAMBOO, PLUM, PINE
Xu Beihong (19 July 1895, Yixing, China to 26 September 1953, Beijing, China)
Xu Beihong, DOUBLE HAPPINESS
Xu Beihong, HAPPY MARRIGAE
VAC Professional Chinese Ink Painting Course and Calligraphy Art Course 专业水墨画课程
For Chinese Ink Painting Art Course enquiry, please contact us at 6255 0711 or WhatsApp: 9005 6716.
Interested to learn Chinese Ink Painting and searching for Chinese Ink calligraphy classes in Singapore? Learn the beautiful, therapeutic and tradition rich medium of Chinese Ink Painting, which is also a prominent form of art in Japan and Korea. Chinese Ink Painting is different from other forms of painting. It relies on the artist’s ability to capture the essence of the subjects and using limited inks and colours to portray it on to a painting. The aesthetic principles of Chinese Ink Painting relies heavily on the spirit of the subject, not the likeness of forms.
Visual Arts Centre Chinese Professional Ink Painting Art Course at Art Studio
Professional Chinese Ink Painting Art Session Schedule (at VAC Art Studio)
Schedule: Every Wednesday, Friday
Time: 7:30pm – 9:45pm
Art Materials Pack home delivered to you @$30.*For home delivery, the current schedule is 2 working days, however please allow for up to 4 days to receive the art materials pack, as this is a busy period for courier services.
Chinese Ink Painting and Calligraphy Lesson Objectives:
(1) Materials knowledge, brief history of Chinese Ink Painting
(2) Compositional skills, brushworks, techniques – through learning:
- Four gentlemen – plum blossoms, chrysanthemum, bamboo, orchids
- Birds and flowers
- Introduction to landscape painting
- Introduction to abstract/semi-abstract Chinese landscape painting
- Calligraphy practise in every session (to understand brushwork, calligraphy strokes)
Completed Chinese Ink Painting by students in the Art Course
With a brush loaded with ink and water, compose your Chinese ink paintings on rice paper. Chinese ink painting involves blending and tactful composition, expressing the essence and spiritual elements of the subjects. This art course is suitable for anyone with a passion for Art or specifically, Chinese Ink Painting. Suitable for students of 11 years and above.
Our affordable Chinese Ink Painting course provides art instruction and guidance from a foundational level. This is to bridge any previous knowledge, and to better guide complete beginners through a step-by-step approach. Chinese Ink Painting is a representation of Chinese Art. Basic Chinese ink painting features the water and ink, black and white. Delving deeper into the Chinese Ink Art, there is the meticulous paintings of flowers like peonies and birds, with its vibrant colours, are also known as Chinese Ink Painting. The features of Chinese Ink painting are realistic representation close subjects, abstraction of distant subjects, subtle colours and a rich artistic conception.
For Chinese Ink Painting Art Course enquiry, please contact us at 6255 0711 or WhatsApp: 9005 6716.
Chinese Ink Painting series – Fan painting, classical subjects and birds and flowers
(Finish one Chinese ink painting work on a mounted Fan in one session and learn classical subjects, birds and flowers through our ZOOM LIVE Art Sessions!)
The Professional Chinese Ink Painting Art Instrutor Team
Completed Chinese Ink Painting artworks in the ZOOM LIVE Art Course
VAC Professional Chinese Ink Painting ZOOM LIVE Art Course
Advantages of our Zoom Online Art Class @Visual Arts Centre Singapore
+ High quality, professional art class, workshop style so you can accomplish one artwork per session
+ 2Hours 15 Mins per session with step by step guidance, art instructor’s live demonstration
+ Suitable for beginners, teenagers to adults of all ages
+ Small class size 5pax-15pax with feedback and direct tips and instruction during the art class
+ Learn Chinese ink painting through the academy school approach, able to utilise these skills and enhance your Chinese ink painting ability
Professional Chinese Ink Painting Art Course, Student artwork
Professional Chinese Ink Painting Art Course, Student artwork
Professional Chinese Ink Painting Art Course, Student artwork
Professional Chinese Ink Painting Art Course, Student artwork
Watch Visual Arts Centre LIVE ZOOM Landscape Sketching Video here:
Chinese Ink Painting ZOOM LIVE Art Session Schedule (Online Art Course)
Schedule: Every Friday, 7.30pm – 9.45pm
Time: 7:30pm – 9:45pm
Art Materials Pack home delivered to you @$30.*For home delivery, the current schedule is 2 working days, however please allow for up to 4 days to receive the art materials pack, as this is a busy period for courier services.
For Chinese Ink Painting Art Course enquiry, please contact us at 6255 0711 or WhatsApp: 9005 6716.
Contact Us To Find Out More!
WhatsApp or Text +65 90056716 or Call Us @ 62550711 / Email: info@visualartscentre.sg
If you are looking for 1 session LIVE ZOOM Art Course: Chinese Ink Painting Fan Painting, please click here.
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