chinese ink painting


HOW TO PAINT… A simple orchid in Chinese ink


The orchid symbolises peacefulness; elegance and tranquillity. It is a serene plant, shy and quiet, representing the ‘yin’ feeling in Chinese Ink Painting whereas the bamboo has a more dynamic ‘yang’ character. Orchid flowers can be thought of as similar to hands. They have


five petals and two of them are painted in the centre of the flower as though the thumb and middle finger were touching. These ‘hands’ will dance along the length of the orchid stem, nodding and talking to one another.


1


The leaves are usually darker than the flowers and painted first. Using an orchid bamboo brush, dip it in the water and then load


it with dark ink. Holding the brush upright, paint a long fluid stroke from left to right, pressing and lifting the tip on the paper to give a varied line.


2


1 3 4 5


2


To paint a second leaf, repeat the movement in step 1, taking the next line higher and letting it cross the first stroke.


Note the ‘eye’ shape these first two strokes have made. This is known as ‘The eye of the Phoenix’ and it should be crossed by


the third stroke, as shown.


The fourth and fifth strokes can either be shorter to ‘support’ the first three leaves or longer to augment them.


Load the brush with a lighter colour ink (or a more dilute mix of the same colour) to paint the stems. Holding the brush upright,


paint a ‘hesitating’ line – your brush should not leave the surface of the paper but rather pause occasionally and change direction very slightly.


4 >


3


5


Artists & Illustrators 71


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