Ink Painting of Birds and Birds in Chinese Flower-and-Bird Painting: A Selection of Teaching Examples

Author: Bi Zhang (Illustrator)
Publisher: Xiling Press
Publication Date: 2005-03-01
Features: In the traditional sense, painting flowers and birds is often referred to as painting [feathers]. The characters [feather] and [hair] originally denote different types of bird plumage, and the bodies of all birds are covered with various kinds of feathers in different regions. Therefore, painting birds is essentially painting the feathers that cover them. Since birds are the main subjects in flower-and-bird painting, it is very natural to call it painting feathers.
The term [gongbi birds] refers to the method of using meticulous and delicate techniques to blend colorful hues to depict the forms of birds and their various feathers. There are countless species of birds in the world, and no fewer than dozens are commonly depicted in paintings. By introducing the techniques for painting over a dozen common birds such as the egret,, starling, kingfisher, wren, sparrow, bullfinch, dunnock, blue magpie, macaw, and mandarin duck, the methods for painting all birds with white, black, black-and-white, green, blue, brown, red, and mixed-colored feathers naturally become fully understood.