Chinese+Brush+Painting

6 Persimmons


 * ASIAN INK AND WATER COLOR PAINTING**

A very simple depiction of fruit. It is made with the fewest brush strokes that could be used. The painter would have practiced as a student for many years before he would have been allowed to even attempt this painting or any painting for that matter. Once he was given permission by his master to practice, he was then considered to be on his way to becoming a master also, a painter. Looking at art this way may give you the idea that Asian artists are considered craftsman as painting is a craft having training and techniques and brush handling inherent in the act of creating. The mere act of creating may be called into creation. These painters worked from memory. We work from observation having the object in front of us. They observe the object until it is memorized, felt. They become one with the object, so painting it becomes an act of recalling it. This means the feeling of the object, the smell, the weight, anything remembered and taken in. Then and only then can the object be painted and then it must be done with as few strokes as possible. Why? because using as few strokes captures the artist's memory, the feeling that is recalled. it happens quickly. The other side of this coin is that the artist is not painting the object but representing it. He is painting is memory of that observed object. These painting only give the viewer what is needed. The painting is the focal point. The purpose of the painting, of any painting is contemplation and meditation.

Note that Sumi painting is a style of Japanese ink painting on rice (sumi) paper.

Notice the simple attack the artist has used to portray this persimmon.



The shadow is the concept for the painting the essence of the object is caught by memory transcribed by the brush stroke which becomes an extension of the artists arm.

brush strokes becoming objects. One stroke per item. The line in this piece is a beautiful example of essence and simplicty. Great use of one brush, from the thinnest line to the thickest line.



The fish below, done in a very simple way, watercolor wash then wet on to dry. The artist knows exactly how much water to use in order to obtain to effect he needs. Here you can see the texture the artist created to say scales and fins. They are just marks.

the plants and the Dragon flies are done after much practice. they are nothing more than abstract brush strokes. taken singularly they are nothing more than marks but put together they become what you see.