Lesson 5

We did cherry blossom from bud to fruit today.  We did it in black and white, because I want the students to practice their stroke work and the perspectives of the blooms.  This is like pencil outline before painting, except we rehearse it in our mind almost like the performing artist do.  Next week we will compose all the elements we covered and deliver a colored painting.  

The premeditation before painting is an important step in Chinese Brush Art.  The artist traditionally grind their ink with the ink stick on the ink stone while consolidate the ideas, themes, layout and design in their head.  The paintings are done (in one breath) as a performer would their show.  This way the spirit is captured through the expressive brush strokes on the rice paper which is totally honest in capturing them.  The students are not yet there, but clarifying the subject visually is very important. 

lesson 4

We put all the elements of the roses we learned last week together.  They include Cherokee roses' front view, 3/4 view, side view, rose buds , leaves, stems and thorns.  We talked about composition.  The students art works are now on the hall way.  

Next week we will do cherry blossoms.  Thank you for allowing the the seeds of joy to germinate in Joyousbrush Club as we explore beauty together. 

lesson 3

We did Cherokee roses last Friday.  I introduced the brush strokes for the leaves, flower buds, stem, thorns as well as how to put multiple leaves together to form leave clusters. We reviewed the loading of the brush.   We will do Cherokee roses again this Friday focus on placement and design.  The students will have a sense of familiarity when we compose with the elements they already learned.

I want to start putting some of their works on the walls at school.  If you don't see them bringing a painting home, please check on the walls in school.  

Thank you for sharing your creative children with me.  We are delightfully exploring the magic of brush painting together.  I have attached the demonstration for your reference.

lesson 2

Dear Creative friends

We started with color painting today.  We learn to load our brushes with varied shades of colors.  As we stroke with the loaded brush, the color happens. This exercise also teaches your students how to mix colors and the color theory.     We had little extra time, we were exploring creatures such as butterfly, caterpillar, snails. 

I am so pleased with the attentiveness in the class as we paint.  The students are very busy learning, but it's all delight directed.  Each painting turn out different because they are not copying.  

Enjoy your creative child

lesson 1

We had a great start introducing the students to paint on rice paper with bamboo brushes. Attached is the painting I demonstrated in class.  We covered the following: 

1. How to hold the brush

2. How to load the brush

3. How to do dots, stroke, lines and signature with mid point strokes, 

4. How to do flower petals,  leaves, flower buds.

5. Flower orientations

6. Perspective and distance