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Birds & Blossoms Sumi-e Painting by Virginia Lloyd-Davies
Want to try my sumi-e painting of "Birds & Blossoms"? Here are some tips on how to create your own masterpiece. Don't be dismayed if yours turns out differently from mine. Sumi-e and Chinese brush paintings come alive through the energy of the brush strokes, and every artist's strokes are unique.
Practice! Once you have studied the step-by-step elements and practiced with the video segments, the composition will come together easily for you. Think of it as an adventure! You'll find the link to the full video at the end of this post.
Materials: I am using thin raw xuan ("rice") paper, but you can use double raw xuan if you prefer. (Recommended Chinese paper suppliers.) Sized Asian paper or Western watercolor paper will not give you the effects you need to create this xie-yi ("paint the idea" or "spontaneous style") painting. I am using two sumi-e brushes: a small, mixed bristle brush with a good point for the birds, the veins and the flower stamens, and a larger, fatter, mixed bristle brush (it could be all soft or hard bristle, depending on your preference) for the petals and leaves. (Recommended Chinese brush suppliers.)
Practice! Once you have studied the step-by-step elements and practiced with the video segments, the composition will come together easily for you. Think of it as an adventure! You'll find the link to the full video at the end of this post.
Materials: I am using thin raw xuan ("rice") paper, but you can use double raw xuan if you prefer. (Recommended Chinese paper suppliers.) Sized Asian paper or Western watercolor paper will not give you the effects you need to create this xie-yi ("paint the idea" or "spontaneous style") painting. I am using two sumi-e brushes: a small, mixed bristle brush with a good point for the birds, the veins and the flower stamens, and a larger, fatter, mixed bristle brush (it could be all soft or hard bristle, depending on your preference) for the petals and leaves. (Recommended Chinese brush suppliers.)
The Birds
Closeup of Birds on Xuan Rice Paper
Load your brush with strong black ink and start with the beak and eye of both birds. This establishes their relationship and will give you some ideas for the bodies (facing front, facing back, body higher, body lower, etc). This is a simple Chinese sitting bird composition. I am using a small mixed bristle brush with a good point. Hold the brush upright for the beak and eye, and at a slant for the wings and belly. Add the feet when the branch is dry. You can learn more about painting birds in my book "Mindful Artist: Sumi-e Painting" published by Quarto. Watch the birds here:
Blossoms
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Lotus flowers can be painted in many different ways in sumi-e or Chinese brush painting style. In this video I am demonstrating the outline and color technique. Some artists color their flowers meticulously; because this is a quick demonstration I am using more of a 'splashing ink' style. I used dark grey ink for a gestural outline and carmine, blue and yellow for the colors. The brush is a 'Happy Dot', which has a great point and springiness. You could also add stamens in black, red or yellow when the painting dries.
Here is a different style of lotus flower, using white on top of red while the paint is still wet to create the petals. If you wait until the flower is dry, you can add a wash to the back of the paper and the white petals will show up clearly.
Below you will see how the flowers pop out when I add outline in red , then turn the painting over, spray the back with water and apply a soft greenish-yellow to give a background color. Yes! This is the same painting!
Lotus flowers outlined in red
Quick-stroke sumi-e lotus and dragonfly
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Trumpet Vine and Bees
CLICK ON ARROW BELOW TO WATCH VIDEO
See how I create trumpet vine in Chinese brush painting spontaneous style. This means there is no pre-planning or pre-sketching, just the brush dancing on the paper.
See how I create trumpet vine in Chinese brush painting spontaneous style. This means there is no pre-planning or pre-sketching, just the brush dancing on the paper.
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Click on arrow below to view video
I am painting red grapes on thin, unsized rice paper. For the grapes I mixed Marie’s rouge tint with indigo; for the leaves I used indigo, gamboge, burnt sienna and black. Use a small soft brush for the grapes and a larger soft brush for the leaves. Use a springy, hard bristle brush for the branches and vines. To find out more details on how to paint grapes in Chinese brush technique, see this post. To view more grape paintings, go here.
I am painting red grapes on thin, unsized rice paper. For the grapes I mixed Marie’s rouge tint with indigo; for the leaves I used indigo, gamboge, burnt sienna and black. Use a small soft brush for the grapes and a larger soft brush for the leaves. Use a springy, hard bristle brush for the branches and vines. To find out more details on how to paint grapes in Chinese brush technique, see this post. To view more grape paintings, go here.
If you enjoyed watching the video and want to try painting grapes yourself, be sure to check out my blog post for tips and illustrations. If you have questions, please ask! I enjoy your comments!
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This short video demonstrates two styles of Chinese brush painting: outline for the flowers and 'splashing ink' or 'boneless' technique for the leaves.
Tip: This combination is often used for plum and lotus and is particularly useful if you are painting white or light-colored flowers.
I'm using a bunch of brushes in this video, including the 'Happy Dot' for the outline petals, and a small, soft brush for the leaves. The paper is a thin, raw xuan or absorbent rice paper.
Click on the arrow below for the video
Tip: This combination is often used for plum and lotus and is particularly useful if you are painting white or light-colored flowers.
I'm using a bunch of brushes in this video, including the 'Happy Dot' for the outline petals, and a small, soft brush for the leaves. The paper is a thin, raw xuan or absorbent rice paper.
Click on the arrow below for the video
Please let me know if you have questions or feedback. I am always happy to answer. Who knows, your comment may inspire another post!
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When you paint plum blossom in Chinese brush style, I bet you usually paint the branches first and then add the flowers. But did you know you can do it the other way round? I'm going to show you step by step how I develop a Chinese brush painting of plum, starting with the blossoms.
Tip:
Tip:
- I am using a raw (unsized) single xuan rice paper. Double xuan is fine too.
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Click on arrow below to watch iris video.
I am using a small soft bristle brush for the flowers and a larger mixed hair brush for the leaves. My colors are Winsor & Newton Violet and Marie's Chinese watercolors. The paper is a thin, raw single xuan rice paper. You can see more of my iris paintings in this gallery.
Chinese brush painting video demonstration of an iris in splashing ink style
I hope you enjoyed this video. Feel free to ask questions. You may inspire another video!
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Click on arrow below to watch video
Whenever I paint wisteria in Chinese brush technique, I remember my childhood bedroom in London, where the wisteria climbed the outside wall and would fill my sleep with scented dreams.
I am using Marie's Chinese watercolor paints on thin, raw xuan (absorbent rice paper). My brushes are a small soft brush for the flowers and leaves and a fine, springy brush with a point for the tendrils. You can find good quality supplies at Blue Heron Arts and Oriental Art Supply. You can see more of my wisteria paintings in my gallery
Whenever I paint wisteria in Chinese brush technique, I remember my childhood bedroom in London, where the wisteria climbed the outside wall and would fill my sleep with scented dreams.
I am using Marie's Chinese watercolor paints on thin, raw xuan (absorbent rice paper). My brushes are a small soft brush for the flowers and leaves and a fine, springy brush with a point for the tendrils. You can find good quality supplies at Blue Heron Arts and Oriental Art Supply. You can see more of my wisteria paintings in my gallery
I hope my demonstration of wisteria was helpful. You can see more of my wisteria paintings here. If you have questions or feedback, please put them in a comment. I'm always happy to answer!
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Click on arrow below to watch video
Here's the first in a regular series of short Chinese brush painting videos created in my studio. It's all about the brush dancing - no pre-planning or sketching. I am using a thin raw xuan (rice paper) and Marie's Chinese watercolors. My brush is Japanese—Yasutomo / Haboku-artist 8030 Small.
Here's the first in a regular series of short Chinese brush painting videos created in my studio. It's all about the brush dancing - no pre-planning or sketching. I am using a thin raw xuan (rice paper) and Marie's Chinese watercolors. My brush is Japanese—Yasutomo / Haboku-artist 8030 Small.
I hope my demonstration of chrysanthemum was helpful. If you have questions or feedback, please put them in a comment. I'm always happy to answer!