Learn to paint lotus flowers and mandarin ducks

Author: Li Chengyi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: The mandarin duck, also known as the lovebird or imperial goose, belongs to the Anatidae family and the order. It habitats in inland lakes, paddy fields, and mountain foothill streams, building nests in tree holes. It is skilled at walking and swimming, and has strong flying abilities. In spring, it breeds in areas like Jilin and Inner Mongolia, and after the cold weather sets in, it migrates south through Hebei and Shandong to winter in regions such as Fujian in southern China. Its diet is diverse. The mandarin duck is one of China's beautiful and rare birds. Especially the males, with their black crests that shimmer in brown, blue, purple, and green, and their vibrant, colorful feathers, are particularly striking. In Chinese literary works, the mandarin duck symbolizes loyal and beautiful love.
The lotus, also known as the lily, water lily, or Nelumbo nucifera, belongs to the Nelumbonaceae family and is a perennial herb. It grows in shallow waters of ponds and lakes. The lotus has broad leaves resembling an umbrella, and its large, magnificent flowers are elegant and possess the noble character of "rising from the mud unstained, and being cleansed by waves without losing its grace." The mandarin duck and the lotus have been cherished by people throughout the ages and are often used in various forms of artistic creation to express blessings for love and the pursuit of a fulfilling life. Generations of critics have bestowed enduring praise and metaphors upon the lotus and the mandarin duck. Li Bai's famous lines, "The lotus blooms from clear water, naturally unadorned," and Yang Wanli's "The lotus leaves stretch to the sky, endless and green; the lotus flowers reflect the sun, red and bright," have been passed down through the ages. As have Pi Rixiu's "Thick mist and rain brush the banana leaves, the waves ripple as the lovebirds swim," and Yang Weizhen's "The lotus leaves rise high, the water churns, washing the lovebirds."
Today, the mandarin duck and the lotus remain popular themes in paintings that depict beautiful and fulfilling lives.