Ancient Chinese Art & HIstory.

Information

Anything associated with Chinese Painting : Ink Stones : Ink Sticks : Brushes : Paper : History : Seal stones : The Masters and their Ancient Philosophies.

Website: http://www.traditionalchinesecalligraphy.com
Location: Oxfordshire, England / Aix-en-Provence,France.
Members: 6
Latest Activity: Dec. 16, 2009

The need to learn...

New Year 2009.
CHINA were writing thousands of years before the West ever knew what a quil was.
With an insatiable appetite to learn and learn more I have found some of the most beautiful people from China, Japan and beyond. Some even in the far reaches of America and all have sent word, lessons, messages of encouragement and items far beyond my expectations.

Incredible enthusiastic help for my own Quest. Some have sent while suites of VCD's, as many as 24 at a time of Chinese Masters painting everything from Mountains to Chicks. One lady through a friend in China who herself is 70 years spritely, her Father is a very revered Master who works and sells his Calligraphy for four figures at a time even now, he sent to me a wonderful Ink Stone, some of the finest ink sticks, brushes and 20 year old xuan papers; a quarter bundle. (1 bundle = 100 sheets size 5.3 feet by 3.2)

It's not just about the picture. it goes beyond that... way beyond.
It is very humbling and a continual devotion, not just to learn the delicate method of painting on paper that is as thin as tissue, but the spiritualities and philosophies of the art that are so intrigueing and all through each of the "Four Treasures" (Ink Stone, Ink Stick, Paper and Brush) the History just pours forth in every corner. Vast, wide fields of "what was", huge arenas of political unrest and the struggle of the peoples; ancient and totally beautiful Poetics painted with the pictures. (As Chinese Characters and Paintings are deemed the same, Characters being small pictures in themselves, they are not seen as words, rather, complimentary enhancements.)

I have so much to learn.
It would be nice to think that there are others in Europe also who inspire in this field.
This is Art Form that is thousands of years older than anything the West ever devised.
Issues today are that the Materials for this Artform are virtually impossible to get in, or to, Europe.
I wonder who else takes up a brush and actually immerses themselves in Chinese Histories through this artform.

Discussion Forum

Good Instruction books for beginners... 3 Replies

Started by Capt Elaine. Last reply by Dr. Neil Armstrong Aug. 26, 2009.

Chinese Brush Painting Suppliers.... 6 Replies

Started by Capt Elaine. Last reply by Sandra Zarembski May. 17, 2009.

Chinese Brish Painting and myself.

Started by John T Smith May. 7, 2009.

Comment Wall

Comment

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Comment by Capt Elaine on August 26, 2009 at 10:54pm: I'm obviously not welcome here... Good bye

Comment by GOPI KANTA GHOSH on August 26, 2009 at 11:41am: WORLD MUST LEARN FROM CHINA...

Comment by John T Smith on June 10, 2009 at 12:51pm: Well, now then. I have my first ever Chinese Brush Painting domonstration on October the 7th this year. A few ladies in a local Church hall, that get together to learn different crafts, want me to explain and demo Chinese Painting to and with them. My wife is to demo the old art of Dorset Button Making as well!

Comment by Sandra Zarembski on June 3, 2009 at 11:58pm: I love Haiying. After my first set of bamboo brushes exploded recently, I contacted her about buying some more. I cannot pay for them for another week but she's sent them to me anyway. She even checked out my website. I'm honored to know her.

I'm surprised that Europe hasn't led the charge in interest in Chinese painting! There's enough of a surge of interest where I live that most of the serious art-supply shops have at least a small display of Chinese painting supplies.

On a related subject, I found this website: http://www.diannapursch.com/
I look at her paintings for inspiration when I'm not watching Haiying's videos.

Comment by Dr. Neil Armstrong on May 30, 2009 at 6:46pm: Hello Capt. Elaine and Sandra... It's good to see you both but in truth I am new to this. I have only ever raised a paint brush for one year. Very much to learn.
Yang Haiying is a good friend of mine. I am currently in the process of making a ten minute "short", an animation and am being sponsored for tis by Reallusion with models and elements of their animation software iCLone Pro. Very exciting project and I wanted some works of Haiyings to put in the animation because I felt it could really do with some genuine Chinese element. So Haiying has kindly sent me some of her Flags.
She is quite an angel and sorely victimised on YouTube.
But as someone said to me recently, the more you stand for something the more there are stand in your way.
This is so right.
I am currently making a video on Cricket Painting. But in truth, the best tutor I have found is Yang O-shi whose books can be found at www.yangoshi.com and I have after a year of searching found her daughter (or she found me) in America and I write to her and she translated to her Mother in China, Yang O-shi. O-shi is a prominent artist in China and a real Rose of an artist. I have to date all her books, the five I know of anyway and she has just, I have been informed, released about 7, maybe even more, VCD's on her Chinese painting tutorials.
She send me Birds and Flowers.
I was most impressed.
ANyway...
That being said, as I find information I post it in video form in the hope that when Europe wakens and realises Chinese art is way more enormous than anything western.... simply because of its rich histories, it will start to stock its art stores with Chinese goods as well.
Its a shame we miss out on so much in Europe because of snobbery and ignorance.

Comment by Sandra Zarembski on April 25, 2009 at 6:18am: Thanks, Elaine, I'll check that out. As you know, I've been trying to paint bamboo. LOL you saw my first effort -- the next few have only been marginally better. Ah well. Only 10 years to go, and I'll have something to show you!

Comment by Capt Elaine on April 12, 2009 at 12:51pm: Ok... I hate the comments wall... you can't edit your message... and I usually need to edit... I'm going to start a Discussion thread.

Comment by Capt Elaine on April 12, 2009 at 12:48pm: Funny you should mention Yang, I have ordered her beginners DVD and book, along with a beginner set of brushes... now if the post man would deliever them . . Also check out http://orientalartsupply.com face service and I'm really liking his beginner instruction book.

Comment by Sandra Zarembski on April 12, 2009 at 12:51am: Hi Capt Elaine! I've just become fascinated by Chinese painting from watching the artist Yang Haiying on YouTube. I was mesmerized by how much she can do with one stroke. I'd like to learn more, and was happy when this group was formed!

Comment by Capt Elaine on April 11, 2009 at 9:58pm: Hi, I'm just now starting to study Chinese Brush Painting... and noticed this group... I'm very new and only have just started but I am eager to learn this art.