Fine Brush Freehand Painting Sample. Eagle: Eagle

Author: Sun Qifeng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: There are many species of eagles, and this primarily focuses on the buzzard. The buzzard is adept at flying, possessing strong flight feathers; skilled at hunting, with sharp talons and beak. It has a fierce temperament, keen eyesight, agility, and nimbleness. It may soar and battle high in the sky, stand tall on massive rocks and pine trees, or scan and swiftly strike prey, making it a among birds. The homophone of "eagle" is "ying," so in Chinese traditional culture, it is used as a metaphor for describing character and personality. Eagles have long been a favorite subject for painters. For example, in the Song Dynasty, emperors like Emperor Huizong and painters like Li Di; in the Ming Dynasty, Lin Liang and Lü Ji; in the Qing Dynasty, Baishan Shanshi (Deer Park Master); and in modern times, Xu Beihong, Qi Baishi, Pan Dashi, and Li Kuchan were all masters of painting eagles. They created numerous works in various styles featuring eagles, forming a valuable legacy for later generations to learn from.
When ancient and modern painters depicted eagles, they did not merely imitate nature but expressed their subjective artistic perceptions. Due to different artistic perceptions, they employed diverse techniques and artistic styles. Although their styles varied, they all followed a certain principle: correctly balancing tradition and nature. They inherited tradition but were not confined by it, transforming and developing it. They also dared to dominate nature, not serving as its slaves, rising above nature to create their own unique artistic identities. This is something worth learning from.
Eagles' feathers are in sheet-like form, dense, and smooth. The lower jaw, chest, and abdomen are covered in downy feathers, soft and fluffy. Flight feathers are long and hard, enabling long-duration flight. Tail feathers vary in size depending on the eagle species. Young eagles have larger tail feathers, while adult eagles have shorter ones. Tail feathers, like flight feathers, serve to adjust direction and control altitude during flight.