Chinese Brush Painting

About this course:

In Chinese art and culture, a flower is never merely a flower nor scenery merely a place; each has its legends, romantic stories, and symbolic spirituality. Through brush strokes, the Chinese brush artist represents the spirit and essence of the subject rather than its realistic detail. In this course, students explore the spontaneous style of Chinese Brush Painting through hands-on step-by-step instruction. The course follows the Xieyi (Depicting-Idea) style developed by the traditional painters of the 11th century and specifically focuses on the Po-mo (Throw-ink) method: In order for a painting to show the vitality of nature, it must be executed in a lively way; hence, the movement of the brush is completed in a simple, dynamic, and powerful manner, as if the artist is throwing color and ink on the rice paper. Subjects include floral, landscape, and animals. Specific subjects covered vary each quarter. Topics include detailed instructions on appropriate use of rice paper, brushes, colors, and ink. For beginning to advanced students.