Traditional Chinese Paintings

The first known Chinese paintings date to 10,000 B.C. The primary pursuit of traditional Chinese painting is not to reproduce an exact copy of nature but rather to grasp an emotion to catch the feel and rhythm of nature. Traditional Chinese paintings can best be described as “abstract minimalist”, using simple non complicated images that represent real life. The first landscape paintings of Europe emerged after the 17th century, leading many scholars to believe that the first landscape paintings in the world originated in China.

Chinese painting uses blurred lines, contours disappearing into the mist, and impressionistic forms. In line with Taoist and Buddhist beliefs, emphasis is placed on the spiritual qualities of the painting and on the inner harmony of man and nature.

The traditional tools for Chinese painting and Chinese calligraphy paintings are the brush, made of animal hair, black inks, made from pine soot, painted on silk or rice paper. Traditional Chinese painting involves the same techniques as calligraphy and is done with a brush, black or colored ink and silk or rice paper, oils were not used.

Most traditional Chinese paintings were matted. These paintings were mounted with silk thread matting borders using the ancient Chinese and Oriental painting techniques.

 

The Seal (name chop): The red colored seal on the front of Chinese paintings is the artist's store carved "name chop", and denotes the artist’s original work and insures authenticity. This Seal or name chop is an ancient style of Chinese calligraphy painting.

The Seal became widely used for decorative engraving in the Han Dynasty. The seal was predominantly used by government officials to denote authenticity. This is an ancient form of calligraphy and is not used today outside the fields of Chinese watercolor paintings and Chinese calligraphy paintings.

 

 

 

Modern Chinese Painting

Over thousands of years a number of techniques were added to traditional Chinese painting, including more sophisticated perspective to build up a vivid depth effect. Modern Chinese paintings have added more colors to classical Chinese art. Oil paints are a European invention and were not used in traditional Asian Painting but are used widely in Modern Chinese painting. The modern tools for Chinese painting are the brush, made of animal hair, oil paints and canvas. 

 

 

 

 

Our Chinese Oil Paintings

The oil painting will be signed by the original artist on the back of the canvas. This denotes the artist's original work and insures authenticity. Our artist use high quality oil paints that resist the cracking and fading that is often seen in older oil paintings. The canvas is made of a material similar to denim. A special white coating paint is applied to the canvas to keep the surface smooth and help preserve the denim material. Oil paints are then used to create the artwork on top of this white coated canvas.

 

 

 

Our Chinese Watercolor Paintings

All our watercolor Chinese paintings are painted using traditional Chinese watercolor and brush techniques. There will be black colored Chinese characters on the front of the painting; this is the artist's signature. There will also be a red colored seal on the front of the painting. This is the artist's store carved "name chop", and denotes the artist’s original work and insures authenticity. Our Chinese watercolor paintings are painted on rice paper. When the watercolor paints are applied the colors are absorbed into the rice paper. Some of our Chinese watercolor paintings are matted. These paintings are mounted with silk thread matting borders using the ancient Chinese techniques. This will be denoted in the item description.