This Zoom class was recorded on Mar. 21, 2023 Time: 9:00am-12:30am PST (3.5 hours). It is now available for purchase. You may download it or watch it online, and you may also sumit your finished work for critique by email.
Subject Matter: Camellia Flowers
Class Description: Join Victoria Li in this Chinese brush painting workshop focused on Camellia Flowers. Using the Gongbi Flower Paintings by the 3 Masters as a reference (as shown on the class thumbnail image. A HD copy will be provided in the class handout), we will learn the techniques and skills required to create a beautiful camellia painting.
The painting title that we will learn how to write in Chinee calligraphy is “山茶"(camellia）. It's very interesting that both "山" (mountain) and "茶" (tea) have a deep connection with camellia flowers. "山" signifies that camellia originally grew on mountain slopes, while "茶" indicates that camellia belongs to the tea family. Camellia blooms in winter to early spring with beautiful flowers and shining green leaves, making it a perfect subject for Gongbi-style painting. Moreover, "山" and "茶" are commonly used characters that can also be used in other artworks.
We will start the class with a calligraphy practice session in four styles: Standard, walking, cursive, and clerical. This session will help improve brush control and line quality, which is essential for Gongbi painting. During the painting session, we will learn the basic Gongbi painting skills, including how to hold two brushes in one hand for color shading, basic ink outlines techniques, and the three basic ways of color washing: separated washing, glazing, and highlighting.
As we work on the entire sample painting, we will provide critiques in class for each student, regardless of how much they have finished. The Zoom class will be recorded and available for class registrants to review with no time limit. Additionally, students may submit their finished work by email for critique.
Whether you're a beginner or have some experience with brush painting, this workshop is suitable for all levels. The techniques you learn from Gongbi practice will provide a solid foundation for other styles of brush painting. Moreover, both calligraphy and Gongbi painting emphasize line quality, so studying them together will benefit brush control. Finally, the coloring of Gongbi painting is very similar to western-style watercolor painting, but the compositions and brush strokes are quite different. Thus, studying Chinese brush calligraphic and Gongbi painting will make your watercolor painting more exquisite.
Class Logistics: The class will be held on March 21, 2023, from 9:00 am-12:30 pm PST (3.5 hours), which is 12 pm East, 6 pm Europe, or 5 pm BST. The class will be conducted over Zoom and recorded for future reference. Please register to receive class handouts and Zoom access code before the class. The class will be recorded and all registrants will receive a link to download/review the class recording with no time restrictions.
Supplies List (The cost are not included in the class fee. Please click on the links to order.)
- None-absorbent Sized Xuan Paper: For each workshop, we will use 2 pieces of 13.5’’x 9" sized Xuan paper. Cicada-wing-sized-xuan is highly recommended for easy tracing and getting sharper lines: https://www.blueheronarts.com/cicada-wing-sized-xuan-paper-gongbi-painting-27x545-p-2497.html
- Brushes:
- Color and ink:
- Light box: A4 size (optional)
