Landscape(中国山水画)- Mountain(山)- Slope(坡)and Pass (路) by Vena Chen(鍾维娜)

Loving Chinese Brush Painting with Vena Chen
Mountain - Slope
Chinese called Landscaping in the words of Shan-Sui (山水), for mountain and water are important elements for painting Natural Scenery.
Landscape in Chinese Calligraphy Painting started 2000 years ago in Han Dynasty (206B.C to 220 A.D.) when paper was invented.
To paint Landscape, we use the same basic materials and techniques. Artists continue to study and improve these techniques, but they always adhere to the original roots. More details are explained in my previous sessions. Here, I intend to focus on the philosophy and how artists prepare for their work in Landscape Painting.
First, Painters need to Observe. Carefully observe the nature around them. They then set out to create the best depiction of what they see. This includes the re-creation of the realistic scenery and much more.
A true artist observes the physical beauty and absorbs the essence of nature. Then they set out to recreate the scenery through their eyes. The forest and rustic dwellings touches their heart, and they feel the grandness and vastness of the mountains, streams and plains. In other words, the paintings are a reflection of the artist’s mind and spirit. An artist strives for perfection in both his techniques and in his philosophy. This differentiates an artist from a craftsman.
The Zen sect of Buddhism teaches the duality of Yin (阴) and Yang (阳). Yin and Yang come from the I Ching (易经), which also has a profound influence on Chinese Painting. Landscape painting represents the finest synthesis of I Ching philosophy and artistic expression. With its impassioned execution, it unites simplicity with grandeur. Hills and high places have always been regarded with reverence as the abode of spirits. It is considered a cosmic inspiration that invokes a feeling of affinity between the human spirit and the energy of the elements. The winds, the mists, the soaring peaks, the plunging torrents show nature without filter. When the artist brings these elements to paper, the two meld to become one, and we see the “humanizing” at work. In other words, we see a unique vision created by the artist.
Here are a few unique perspective techniques used in Landscape Painting:
Create a high horizon: This precludes the need for uniting sky and ground, divided by the natural horizon of sight by means of vertical lines ad mass. So a painting, can have foreground, middle ground and far away…
Also, painting can show movements. A painting can show river passing through mountains, villages,…etc in a few feet of paper. In the painting, one can have the virtual experience of passing through the country depicted.
Contemporary Chinese artists may use vanishing point perspective, the traditional one may use Scatter point perspective. Instead of symmetry, Chinese painting prefer the principle of balance. The tree with the rock, the subject with blank space … This is asymmetrical, but perfectly poised.
Landscape painting encompasses many variety of subjects, mountain, water, trees, human, animals, structures, etc. In the next 10 sessions, I intend to demonstrate the traditional techniques in each area. One by one with ink only. I will show you different compositions and styles.
I was fortunate to have the privilege to learn from my master Nien-Tsu Hu (胡念祖), who is a very talented and accomplished landscape artist in China. Sadly, he passed away in 2019. I took private lessons with him in New York for a few years. I have never stopped practicing since and I stayed in contact with my teacher until his passing.
I would very much like to share with you what I have learned from my master. We will start with the traditional techniques to build a solid foundation. While keeping the spirit and essence of the traditions, combine that with the modern concept to create your very own beautiful landscape painting. It is my goal to introduce and help you grasp and hopefully enjoy this very special art form. The precious gift from our culture.
Wish you all the best.
A special Thank You for his wonderful music to Jonathan Segev / Garden of Serenity.
You can find his work on UA-cam and / …