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Relax With Chinese Painting - Lotus Flower & Kingfisher

Fiona Sheng @ InkDifferent Studio

Chinese Freehand Painting is renowned for its expressive brushwork and fluid emotional depth. This painting style allows artists to break free from the constraints of the physical world and create their own—an open space for artistic freedom. Through learning Freehand Painting, we cultivate a keen sense of observation, intuitively capturing the essence of an object and expressing it through minimal yet meaningful brushstrokes. These simple lines not only depict form but also reflect a deeper philosophy of life.

Course Overview

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Chinese Freehand Painting is renowned for its expressive brushwork and fluid emotional depth. This painting style allows artists to break free from the constraints of the physical world and create their own—an open space for artistic freedom. Through learning Freehand Painting, we cultivate a keen sense of observation, intuitively capturing the essence of an object and expressing it through minimal yet meaningful brushstrokes. These simple lines not only depict form but also reflect a deeper philosophy of life.

Course Overview

This course focuses on a key combination in traditional Chinese painting—the lotus flower and the kingfisher bird. The lotus flower carries rich cultural symbolism, representing purity, resilience, and spiritual growth, while the kingfisher, with its vivid plumage and dynamic movement, brings energy and life to the composition.

You will begin by learning the composition and painting techniques for each subject individually. Then, we will integrate them into four complete paintings, refining your skills in structure, brush control, and the use of ink and color. By the end of the course, you will have a strong foundation in Freehand Painting and be encouraged to create your own unique compositions inspired by the techniques learned.

Come join us and explore the beauty of painting the lotus and kingfisher.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Paint lotus flower and leaf in the chinese freehand painting style
  • Paint the kingfisher in the chinese freehand painting style
  • Compose 4 different complete paintings that incorporate the lotus and kingfisher

Syllabus

About & Demo

In this short introduction you will find out more about Fiona and the content of our courses.

This video is a fast-forwarded version of a complete lotus flower & kingfisher painting on a presentation paper.

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Painting Lotus Flower, Leaf & Kingfisher

Let's first learn to paint the flower and leaf!

And then let's paint the bird!

Composition of Complete Paintings

Let's warm up with a painting first!

Now let's add a few more things in our painting!

Now we can change it up a little more!

Finally, we can create a very different atmosphere.

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Relax With Chinese Painting - Lotus Flower & Kingfisher with these activities:
Practice Basic Brushstrokes
Improve your brush control and familiarity with essential brushstrokes used in Chinese Freehand Painting.
Browse courses on Brushstrokes
Show steps
  • Watch online tutorials demonstrating basic brushstrokes.
  • Practice the 'single stroke' and 'double stroke' techniques.
  • Experiment with varying pressure and speed to create different effects.
Explore 'The Tao of Painting'
Deepen your understanding of the philosophical and cultural context of Chinese painting.
View Alter Ego on Amazon
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'The Tao of Painting'.
  • Read the introduction and chapters related to symbolism and composition.
  • Reflect on how Taoist principles influence the painting techniques.
Reference 'Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting'
Use this classic manual to deepen your understanding of traditional Chinese painting techniques.
View Alter Ego on Amazon
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of the 'Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting'.
  • Study the sections on flower and bird painting techniques.
  • Practice the techniques demonstrated in the manual.
Four other activities
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Create a Lotus Flower Sketchbook
Enhance your observational skills and understanding of the lotus flower's form through sketching.
Show steps
  • Gather reference images of lotus flowers from different angles.
  • Create at least ten sketches of lotus flowers, focusing on different details.
  • Experiment with different sketching techniques and mediums.
Ink Wash Exercises
Refine your ink wash technique to achieve subtle gradations and tonal variations.
Show steps
  • Prepare ink washes of varying concentrations.
  • Practice creating smooth gradients on rice paper.
  • Experiment with layering washes to build depth and texture.
Kingfisher Color Palette Study
Develop a deeper understanding of color mixing and application for painting the kingfisher.
Show steps
  • Research the natural colors of the kingfisher.
  • Mix different color combinations to match the kingfisher's plumage.
  • Create a color palette chart with swatches and notes on mixing ratios.
Paint a Series of Four Seasons Lotus & Kingfisher
Apply the learned techniques to create a series of paintings depicting the lotus and kingfisher in different seasons.
Show steps
  • Plan four compositions, each representing a different season.
  • Sketch the compositions, paying attention to seasonal elements.
  • Paint each composition, using appropriate colors and brushstrokes.
  • Reflect on the symbolism and emotional impact of each painting.

Career center

Learners who complete Relax With Chinese Painting - Lotus Flower & Kingfisher will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected one books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Relax With Chinese Painting - Lotus Flower & Kingfisher.
Cover image
Alter Ego
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Delves into the philosophical underpinnings of Chinese painting, providing context for the artistic choices made in Freehand Painting. It explores the connection between art and Taoist principles, enriching the understanding of the lotus flower and kingfisher motifs. While not a technical manual, it offers invaluable insight into the cultural and spiritual significance of the art form, adding depth to the course material. It is commonly used as a reference text for those studying Chinese art history and philosophy.
Alter Ego
Paperback
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Alter Ego
Kindle Edition
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Effort
2 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Fiona Sheng @ InkDifferent Studio
Language
English
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