From Booklist
Zhen notes in his introduction that Chinese artists refer not to painting but to writing as they pare down to the essentials and capture the essence and spirit of a creature rather than merely copy its nature. He traces the development of Chinese animal painting from the realism of the Tang Dynasty 1,300 years ago to the more spontaneous, abstract contemporary style, comparing and correlating that to the simplification of written Chinese over time. He then introduces materials and basic techniques, comparing Chinese and Western watercolor papers, brushes, and paints. His detailed descriptions and full-color examples of similarities and differences extend throughout, with discussions of styles, arrangements of materials, brush techniques, and more. Zhen emphasizes dynamic movement within compositions before progressing to details. Actual step-by-step instructions in the final section include exercises featuring squirrels, monkeys, and tigers and complete compositions involving elephants, turtles, and birds. This amply illustrated how-to gracefully bridges the gap between East and West and should draw fans of both approaches. Whitney Scott
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Book Description
With easy techniques and clear, step-by-step instructions, Lian Quan Zhen draws readers into the enchanting world of Chinese painting. This gorgeously illustrated book teaches artists how to re-create the power and simplicity of this popular artistic style with: * Page after page of easy-to-follow demonstrations that can be completed with watercolors or traditional Chinese materials * A wide variety of appealing animal subjects, including horses, cats, tigers, dogs and more * Concise lessons and illustrations that show readers exactly how to use the Chinese watercolor brush--a technique that's rarely covered in workshops or books Chinese Watercolor Techniques: Painting Animals provides a powerful look at the contrasts between painting philosophies in the East and West. It's the perfect way to step into the international art world!
About the Author
Lian Quan Zhen is the bestselling author of Chinese Painting Techniques for Exquisite Watercolors. He's a native of China who teaches workshops around the world, as well as watercolor and sketching classes at U.C. Berkeley. He lives in Pinole, California
Chinese Watercolor Techniques: Painting Animals FROM THE PUBLISHER
"Chinese painters have been using animals as subjects for over 1,300 years, dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Today, watercolor painters can apply their theories, materials and styles - as well as the Eastern interplay between art, calligraphy and poetry - to capture the spirit of animals in their painting." Lian Quan Zhen's powerful art illustrates the limitless creative possibilities of Chinese and watercolor paintings. He combines his inspirational art with clear, practical instruction in easy-to-follow demonstrations.
Art & Photography
Book Info
