Technique of Ink Painting: Birds (Illustrated)

Author: Wang Jiuxing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: Birds and animals are friends of humans, and since the dawn of humanity, they have coexisted with humans in nature. In ancient times, humans began to domesticate wild birds for both daily life and appreciation. Birds play an indispensable role in maintaining the ecological balance of nature and ensuring human survival. They make significant contributions in protecting forestry, fruit cultivation, preserving the cleanliness of the natural environment, and dispersing plant seeds. Today, as the natural environment gradually deteriorates, many bird species have become extinct or are on the brink of extinction. Therefore, the protection of birds has increasingly garnered high attention from humans. Countries around the world have established animal protection laws, viewing the care for birds as equally important as caring for their own fate.
The meticulous painting of birds and animals as an independent art form emerged during the Five Dynasties period and flourished in the Song Dynasty. During the Five Dynasties, Huang Quan of Western Shu created the outline-and-color painting technique, characterized by fine brushwork and vibrant colors. The birds he painted were lively and lifelike, earning him the title "Huang's Prosperity and Wealth." Xu Xi of Southern Tang often wandered gardens to sketch, developing the ink-and-light technique. His depictions of flowers, birds, insects, and fish were full of vitality and captured the essence of nature, earning him the title "Xu's Wild and Refined Style." The painting schools of Huang and Xu thus became the ancestors of later meticulous bird and animal paintings.