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Demonstrating peony at The Villages Workshop in Florida
Step 1: Relax! You're going to have fun! Peonies come in many varieties and different colors and they're all delicious!
Select one or two colors for your flower: Marie's Rose and Rouge Tint work well, or Rose and Carmine. Apply the lighter color diluted to halfway up the brush; apply the darker color more strongly to the tip of your brush.
Tip: use a small, soft brush for the petals. Click here for more info on brushes and colors.
Select one or two colors for your flower: Marie's Rose and Rouge Tint work well, or Rose and Carmine. Apply the lighter color diluted to halfway up the brush; apply the darker color more strongly to the tip of your brush.
Tip: use a small, soft brush for the petals. Click here for more info on brushes and colors.
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My last post offered suggestions on Chinese brushes, ink and colors. This time we’ll explore the mysterious and richly rewarding world of Chinese papers.
Paper for Chinese brush painting comes in varying thicknesses and absorbency, depending on its purpose. I use mostly raw (unsized) paper for quick-stroke flowers and birds, and a selection of raw and semi-sized papers for my landscapes. There is no right or wrong. You find out what works best for you by trial and error.
Tip: When you start off, you may find that a good practice paper in a roll, which imitates the handmade rice papers pretty well but is a lot cheaper, works best for you.
Paper for Chinese brush painting comes in varying thicknesses and absorbency, depending on its purpose. I use mostly raw (unsized) paper for quick-stroke flowers and birds, and a selection of raw and semi-sized papers for my landscapes. There is no right or wrong. You find out what works best for you by trial and error.
Tip: When you start off, you may find that a good practice paper in a roll, which imitates the handmade rice papers pretty well but is a lot cheaper, works best for you.
Tip: You can also practice on newsprint, but the danger there is that you get used to that surface and then have to make a big adjustment when you move to rice paper. You may also create a masterpiece on newsprint, only to find it yellowing and turning brittle in a couple of years. Regular watercolor paper does not work because it does not absorb the moisture of the stroke.
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Some of my Favorite Brushes!
If you are trying Chinese brush painting or Japanese sumi-e for the first time, the most important item is the right natural bristle Chinese brush. It's worth spending some money on this, although you can get some okay brushes for $10 and others that will practically create the painting for you for $200. The good news is, if you’re just starting out, you don’t need a “Dragon brush” for $200.