Sixth Grade
Chinese Brush painting
The aim of the traditional Chinese painter was to capture not only the outer appearance of a subject but its inner spirit as well. This meant that the artist had to understand something more than just how the subject was created--they had to think about the subject's essence. Because of this, Chinese ink wash painting may be thought of as an art of expression that captures the unseen as much as the seen.
To accomplish his goal, the Chinese painter usually rejected the use of color because he thought that color was a distraction. He also rejected the Western use of light and shadow as a means of modeling ("modeling" makes the object seem more three-dimensional), along with opaque pigments (paint that is not see-through or transparent) to conceal mistakes. Instead, the artist relied on line—the characteristic line of the inked brush.
In Chinese brush painting, no sketch is prepared and no model is used; the artist paints with rapid strokes, transferring what he sees in his mind directly to the paper. There are no corrections: from first to last stroke, the artist must 'get it right.' This, again, is different from Western watercolor technique, where corrections and overpainting are a part of the process. The discipline that this kind of mastery requires derives from the practice of calligraphy.
The Chinese believed that simple beauty, harmony, serenity and tranquility could be discovered in a symbol (such as in calligraphy), or in a bird, plant or animal. Remember that Chinese Brush Painting is meant to be more than a representation of an object; it is also a symbolic expression. This is why a full plant is never painted, but rather a few blossoms or branches which will represent the plant in it's entirety. Because the artist does not look at the subject as he paints, he believed he was bringing it forth from his mind and heart and becoming part of nature in the process.
To accomplish his goal, the Chinese painter usually rejected the use of color because he thought that color was a distraction. He also rejected the Western use of light and shadow as a means of modeling ("modeling" makes the object seem more three-dimensional), along with opaque pigments (paint that is not see-through or transparent) to conceal mistakes. Instead, the artist relied on line—the characteristic line of the inked brush.
In Chinese brush painting, no sketch is prepared and no model is used; the artist paints with rapid strokes, transferring what he sees in his mind directly to the paper. There are no corrections: from first to last stroke, the artist must 'get it right.' This, again, is different from Western watercolor technique, where corrections and overpainting are a part of the process. The discipline that this kind of mastery requires derives from the practice of calligraphy.
The Chinese believed that simple beauty, harmony, serenity and tranquility could be discovered in a symbol (such as in calligraphy), or in a bird, plant or animal. Remember that Chinese Brush Painting is meant to be more than a representation of an object; it is also a symbolic expression. This is why a full plant is never painted, but rather a few blossoms or branches which will represent the plant in it's entirety. Because the artist does not look at the subject as he paints, he believed he was bringing it forth from his mind and heart and becoming part of nature in the process.
Today we will do a painting of a bamboo. Bamboo is usually the first subject tackled by beginning students. It is the easiest subject to master and is also the most calligraphic. Bamboo painting is all about the beauty of line. You will be amazed at all the different qualities of line you can achieve with just one brush, simply by changing the angle and pressure with which you hold it.
Start by practicing the stems of the bamboo. The stems rise from the ground and grow towards the sky. In the same way, when you paint the stems start with the brush at the bottom of the page and pull upwards. Press the brush hairs flat against the paper, pull up to paint the first segment, and release. Leave a little space in between each segment. Repeat till you reach the top of the paper. See if you can vary them in width as well as dark and lightness. Change up the width of the stroke by slanting the brush to the side, or holding it completely horizontally to the paper.
Remember to make bold strokes - if you go too slow, the ink will bleed, but going too fast may result in mistakes. Find a speed with which to paint that is somewhere in the middle.
For the leaves it is important to continually change the brush pressure. Think of the brush as a dancer, with the very tip of the brush being the dancer's toes. Start the leaf by having the dancer up on the tips of her toes. As you paint the leaf the dancer comes down flat on her feet and then gradually rises up on her toes again. In this way you will get the beautiful thin point at the beginning and end of the leaf, and the thicker part in the middle. Try to vary the amount of ink so some leaves appear darker and some lighter. In this way some leaves will look closer to you while others appear farther away.
Rather than clutter up the painting with many branches and leaves, allow the bamboo to be surrounded by a good deal of "white" or "empty space." In a Chinese painting the empty space is as important as that which is painted. This negative space allows the eye a place to rest, and our eyes a chance to be more thoughtful about the "essence" of the bamboo subject.
It was traditional for the artist to "sign" their painting with an imprint of their CHOP (a stamp with your name carved onto it). We will also be making your own chop today. Always place the chop mark in a place where it does not interfere with the rest of the painting. You can also place it someplace where the subject of the painting needs a counterbalance in the space on the paper.
Start by practicing the stems of the bamboo. The stems rise from the ground and grow towards the sky. In the same way, when you paint the stems start with the brush at the bottom of the page and pull upwards. Press the brush hairs flat against the paper, pull up to paint the first segment, and release. Leave a little space in between each segment. Repeat till you reach the top of the paper. See if you can vary them in width as well as dark and lightness. Change up the width of the stroke by slanting the brush to the side, or holding it completely horizontally to the paper.
Remember to make bold strokes - if you go too slow, the ink will bleed, but going too fast may result in mistakes. Find a speed with which to paint that is somewhere in the middle.
For the leaves it is important to continually change the brush pressure. Think of the brush as a dancer, with the very tip of the brush being the dancer's toes. Start the leaf by having the dancer up on the tips of her toes. As you paint the leaf the dancer comes down flat on her feet and then gradually rises up on her toes again. In this way you will get the beautiful thin point at the beginning and end of the leaf, and the thicker part in the middle. Try to vary the amount of ink so some leaves appear darker and some lighter. In this way some leaves will look closer to you while others appear farther away.
Rather than clutter up the painting with many branches and leaves, allow the bamboo to be surrounded by a good deal of "white" or "empty space." In a Chinese painting the empty space is as important as that which is painted. This negative space allows the eye a place to rest, and our eyes a chance to be more thoughtful about the "essence" of the bamboo subject.
It was traditional for the artist to "sign" their painting with an imprint of their CHOP (a stamp with your name carved onto it). We will also be making your own chop today. Always place the chop mark in a place where it does not interfere with the rest of the painting. You can also place it someplace where the subject of the painting needs a counterbalance in the space on the paper.
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The Project
Prep - 45 min. (includes time to make sample)
Print - Sho-Son, Birds in Bamboo Tree (note: in this picture the artist does make use of color by mixing the pigments with the ink)
Materials
- 5x17" white construction paper, 2 per student (these are cut slightly smaller than half sheet, so they can be mounted on a black half sheet)
- Sumi paint brushes (in 6th grade file cabinet drawer)
- watered down black tempera paint (look in paint cabinet for a black that is ready to go, will be labeled)
- 2 Styrofoam squares for each student 1 x 1 inches cut from Styrofoam plates
- red ink pads
- Chinese symbol papers
Print - Sho-Son, Birds in Bamboo Tree (note: in this picture the artist does make use of color by mixing the pigments with the ink)
Materials
- 5x17" white construction paper, 2 per student (these are cut slightly smaller than half sheet, so they can be mounted on a black half sheet)
- Sumi paint brushes (in 6th grade file cabinet drawer)
- watered down black tempera paint (look in paint cabinet for a black that is ready to go, will be labeled)
- 2 Styrofoam squares for each student 1 x 1 inches cut from Styrofoam plates
- red ink pads
- Chinese symbol papers
Lesson
1. Show students print and talk to them about Chinese brush painting. The Chinese liked to paint things in nature with simple brush strokes. Bamboo is found all over China and is a very popular subject.
2. Show students the stamp in the print. The stamp is how Chinese artists signed their artwork. Each person that acquired the artwork would then also stamp it with their signature to show that they owned it. The more stamps, the more owners.
3. Show students your sample. Explain how you created the bamboo by holding your Sumi brush on its side and pulling down to create a piece of bamboo. Then lift up brush and set down again about 1/4 inch from first piece to create another piece of bamboo. Continue this process until you have reached the bottom of the page. Now you can go back and put the lines in between the bamboo pieces by using the tip of the Sumi brush.
4. Add leaves to bamboo by using the tip of the Sumi brush to make branches and leaves.
5. Show students the stamp on your sample and model for them how to use a pencil to draw a Chinese symbol on the Styrofoam, press it on the stamp pad, and then press it onto the side of their artwork. (Note: we now have some tools for carving Styrofoam if you want to use those instead of a dull pencil.)
Art Project
-pass out paper to each student, they will each create 2 paintings and can take one home
-have students put their name on the back of both papers
-pass out Sumi brushes and paint in a paint palette
-when students are done painting their bamboo, have them turn in their brush and paint
-hand out Styrofoam squares and Chinese symbol handouts to create their stamps
-have students raise their hands and pass out red stamp pads so they can stamp their artwork
-when students are done have a couple wash out Sumi brushes at sink and wash out paint palettes
-have students hand in brushes, palettes, and stamp pads
-have a parent volunteer wash out the brushes again in the art room and leave on the counter to dry
-please put all art supplies away
*this project looks great for Art Showcase in May, hold onto it if you want to put it up!
1. Show students print and talk to them about Chinese brush painting. The Chinese liked to paint things in nature with simple brush strokes. Bamboo is found all over China and is a very popular subject.
2. Show students the stamp in the print. The stamp is how Chinese artists signed their artwork. Each person that acquired the artwork would then also stamp it with their signature to show that they owned it. The more stamps, the more owners.
3. Show students your sample. Explain how you created the bamboo by holding your Sumi brush on its side and pulling down to create a piece of bamboo. Then lift up brush and set down again about 1/4 inch from first piece to create another piece of bamboo. Continue this process until you have reached the bottom of the page. Now you can go back and put the lines in between the bamboo pieces by using the tip of the Sumi brush.
4. Add leaves to bamboo by using the tip of the Sumi brush to make branches and leaves.
5. Show students the stamp on your sample and model for them how to use a pencil to draw a Chinese symbol on the Styrofoam, press it on the stamp pad, and then press it onto the side of their artwork. (Note: we now have some tools for carving Styrofoam if you want to use those instead of a dull pencil.)
Art Project
-pass out paper to each student, they will each create 2 paintings and can take one home
-have students put their name on the back of both papers
-pass out Sumi brushes and paint in a paint palette
-when students are done painting their bamboo, have them turn in their brush and paint
-hand out Styrofoam squares and Chinese symbol handouts to create their stamps
-have students raise their hands and pass out red stamp pads so they can stamp their artwork
-when students are done have a couple wash out Sumi brushes at sink and wash out paint palettes
-have students hand in brushes, palettes, and stamp pads
-have a parent volunteer wash out the brushes again in the art room and leave on the counter to dry
-please put all art supplies away
*this project looks great for Art Showcase in May, hold onto it if you want to put it up!