THE LONDON CHINESE BRUSH PAINTERS’ GROUP
Newsletter
www.londonchinesebrushpaintersgroup.co.uk
The Group Seal read “Share One’s Treasures”
9th January – William Cai – The Four Seasons 四季.
William began by wishing the Group a Happy New Year 新年快樂. He then lay out his colours for
the composition – Gamboge, Indigo, Carmine, Burnt Sienna, White, Rouge and Vermillion.
He told us that the flowers he was about to paint represent “The Flowers of the Four Seasons”, these
are used to wish the recipient peace. Peony 牡丹as Spring flower, lotus荷花 as Summer flower,
chrysanthemum 菊花 as Autum flower and plum blossom 梅花 as Winter flower. He laid out his
paper, he used double xuan but he said that single xuan would be just as good. He marked out the
vase using dots to show the edges in very light ink. In this composition the peony一 is the dominant
flower so will be the hosts, the guests are the other three flowers, chrysanthemum, lotus and
bamboo and of course, the vase.
For the peony, load the brush fully with white paint, when it is fully loaded tip it into the carmine,
decide where the flower is going in relation to the vase and start at the centre making the petals
small and closely together, the tip of the brush is pointed to the bottom of the petal and the inside of
the flower to give depth. The petals are smaller on the top of the flower and tightly clustered
together
The petals get larger and fewer to the bottom of the flower, but you must remember to keep all the
petals going to the centre (corolla) of the flower or they will look as though they are detached from
the main body and floating. Study William’s flower closely.
Keep the flower head loose and make your petals face in different directions and different tones of
the colour to give depth. Don’t worry about the white spaces as these will be dealt with later on.
1
When you are satisfied with the shape of the flower, add rouge highlights to the inside of the petals,
this gives real depth to the flower. Then start adding the leaves, these should be of a mixture of
yellow, indigo and a touch of ink, tip the brush in the ink before making the leaf shapes around the
flower. Notice that the leaves hide part of the vase.
Add the veins to the leaves using undiluted ink on a dry brush; make sure you give your leaves life by
making the veins lively.
Now add the lotus, use a fairly light wash for this and the stop go method to achieve the darker tip to
the petals. The stem also uses a stop go technique.
2
Add the yellow chrysanthemum, cascade it over the top of the vase. The flowers are started by
making green dots and the petals are a mixture of yellow with vermillion, tip the brush into the
vermillion and using a calligraphic stroke take the petals into the corolla, again be careful to make
each petal go to the centre. For the third and bottom flower make a darker mix of yellow and
vermillion and tip the brush into burnt sienna, to give the composition depth.
Add the purple chrysanthemums to the right and above the lotus flower, the petals are a mix of
indigo and carmine, William also added some phthalocyanine, but he said his indigo was not the
right colour, but he would rather just use the indigo. The stroke is “press and flick”, not too quickly
or you will get a thin petal. Use different intensities of the mix to give liveliness to the flower,
change the mix for each flower. It is important to make the petals go to the centre of the flower. Try
to keep the petals small and clustered towards the centre of the flower and the outer petals are
longer and a bit curved.
Mei Hua 梅花
The branches for the plum are now added, make sure they are sturdy, but flowing – add the
smaller branches and leave some gaps for the blossom. William also added a branch at the
bottom right for more plum blossom, add the small twigs, use a calligraphic stroke, do not make
too straight or thick or it will be too heavy.
3
Now the blossom, William used a mix of vermillion and carmine, he loaded his brush with
vermillion and tipped it into the carmine and using a side brush stroke added the blossom, each
blossom has five petals, but sometimes these petals are hidden behind other flowers or branches,
the grow from the branch, so keep them close to the branch. Try to give a variety of shapes to
each flower, some are facing right and some left, some are facing downwards and some sideways,
this gives a sense of lightness and reality to the painting without being too formal. When the
blossom are nearly dry add the stamen in a dark ink, these stamen give the direction the flower is
facing so try not to make them all face the same way.
Go back to the lotus and add the seed pod in the middle of the flower and add stamen in dark ink
around the bottom of the pod.
Do the same for the chrysanthemums, both yellow and purple using a dark ink.
4
To completely finish the painting add mineral green to the centre of the peony, then load your
brush with white and tip into the yellow put the stamen in around the central petals, give them a
bit of a curve, the stroke is rather like the stroke you used for the purple chrysanthemum but
smaller. draw the bamboo at the bottom of the painting, using dark ink, then a wash of indigo
and yellow, leave a few white spaces, leave for a few minutes then using a mix of burnt sienna, fill
the spaces, do not do this too soon or it will all bleed into the green and do not leave too long or it
will not blend together properly. Lastly add mineral green to the top parts of the leaves and
mineral blue to the under leaves.
When the painting is dry add the wash, this is a very light green wash, start by putting a wash
around the lotus flower this will make it stand out, the wash is put round the vase and it is used to
fill in the spaces in and around the flowers. It is placed under the vase and along the base to
make it sit in the composition naturally.
A smiling William with the finished painting.
How Lovely
5
2016 WORKSHOPS start promptly at 10.30 and finish at 4.30
February 13, 2016 Jane Evans *
March 12, 2016 Maggie Cross
April 9, 2016 Angela Reich , Free Style**
May 14, 2016 Kaili Fu
June 11, 2016 Dr. Xuzhuang Li – Calligraphy***
NOTES FROM ANUSH ON THE NEW TUTORS
* This will be the first time Jane Evans will be doing a workshop for us. She is the honorary
president of the CBPS and has written several books (you might have some of her books).
She paints in the Lingnan style and I am sure we all will benefit from her knowledge and
experience. I have been trying to get her to run a workshop for us for a long time.
Maggie Cross and William Cai don't need any introduction since they have been doing
workshops for us for a long time.
**Angela is very good with still life. I am sure you all remember that she stepped in to do
the seal carving and I received lots of comments that you were very happy with her teaching
and I have now confirmed her for April 2016.
***I might ask Dr. Li to show us how to make little phrases to put on our paintings. Maybe
20 different sayings? Please let me hear your thoughts and I will go with the majority.
PLEASE NOTE - NEW CONTACT FOR WORKSHOP BOOKINGS
Unfortunately Anne has had to give up making the bookings so, with immediate effect;
Mary Wiggins is the contact for making workshop bookings. Please send cheques to her as
early as you can to book your next workshop place. As we cannot refund the money if you do
not attend it is best not to book too many workshops in advance. We will, of course, be more
flexible if you have a last minute emergency. If you want to book during the last 5 days
before a workshop, please email Mary first to check if a place is still available. Mary
Wiggins, 162 Sherwood Avenue, Streatham, London SW16 5EG,
07805255916
[email protected]
I am pleased to tell you that we have a very large library of Chinese painting books which is kept in
the cupboard in the hall. These are a gift from one of our founder members, Jean Smith. Jean has
been painting for a long time, but now finds travelling very hard, so is unable to attend the
workshops, but she still likes to read the Newsletter and hear news of members and what we are up
to.
If you are borrowing a book from the library please remember to sign it out with the date you take
it out, your name and the date you bring it back. I would also ask you to take great care of these
books and make sure you bring them back as other members may be waiting to borrow them.
Please remember you can enter your paintings on the website, you can either send a photograph of
your work to Carry Gorney or if you arrange with her she will photograph your work at a workshop.
Carry’s email is [email protected] Don’t forget to check on the website to view your work.
I hope you all take advantage of our website. All the Newsletters are downloaded to this site
www.londonchinesebrushpaintersgroup.co.uk this part of the website is for the use of members
only, if others are interested please encourage them to get in touch with Hakima (Membership
6
Secretary and Events organiser) [email protected].
regarding the Group and how to join.
and she will send out information
Please remember that if you have tea or coffee a donation of at least 50p for our charities should be
put in the box provided. Many thanks to those of you who already do.
Starlight brightens the lives of seriously and terminally ill
children to distract them from the fear and isolation, they
can often feel as a result of their illnesses
Animal Asia work to free the lovely Moon Bears kept in barbaric conditions in
‘Bile Farms’ in China and South East Asia. They also provide sanctuaries for
these beautiful animals
If you have any articles, dates for exhibitions or courses etc. for the newsletter please send them to
Judy at [email protected] 020 7603 9588
The images in this newsletter are the copyright and property of the artists and should not be copied
without the permission of the artists
The committee members are;
Anush Sarkissian (Tutor Liaison) [email protected]
Stella Steveni (Treasurer) [email protected]
Anne King (Committee member) [email protected]
Hakima Fosdike (Membership Secretary and Events organiser) [email protected]
Judy Wright (Chairman and Newsletter editor) [email protected]
Mary Wiggins (Worshop Bookings Organiser) [email protected]
Bianca Deegan (Newsletter editor)
7