Rock Formation Page Arizona

As I continue to work on my technique with the ink and brush, I am beginning to feel more comfortable with the tools I am working with. The paper I have used here is a non-smearing rice paper, which is more ideal for this kind of subject matter. With the Chinese style of painting, one starts with dark ink on the brush, and the goal is to exhaust the brush before applying any more ink to the brush. Water is applied to the brush, as the ink gets depleted, and again exhausted from the brush. Colour is applied after most of the ink work has been laid down.The Chinese water colours are more muted than the western water colours, which I prefer. This painting is from a photo I took near page Arizona last year. Complementary colours were applied, those being the reds and green, as well as the triad of yellow, blue and the green, giving the whole painting a unifying look. The complementary colour scheme also results in a visual vibration, for instance, the red and green.  Below is the photo I used as a reference.

A recent painting of a photo I took of the Grand Canyon from last year.I used more colour in this painting than I have done before with the chinese brush painting. The base is done with the black ink. Then I slowly worked over the image with a colour triad, red, yellow and blue. This combination of colours works good together, and the ink helps to define the outlines.I managed to create a focal point in the centre of the painting, where the eye is drawn to the river in the far distance by the high contrast in value. The separation in the foreground between the two ridges also helps to create interest in the foreground, thus the eye is drawn back and forth between foreground and far distance.

Pine Tree

A quick effort done recently, my version of a traditional Chinese subject: pine tree. Flowers, fruits, and trees are representative of of various aspects of life in Chinese culture. The pine tree represents longevity, steadfastness, self discipline, endurance, and long life. I have to admit that these aspects of life were not in the forefront of my thoughts as I constructed this piece, since I am still trying to master the craft of Chinese brush painting. I had hoped to achieve a free flowing style in this effort, and I think I approach that here. The brush work is  done with calligraphy ink, using a stiff brush. The paper is a rice paper, which tends to bleed unless the ink has been modified with a few drops of peach sap glue. Not the perfect effort, but I am happy with it.