Landscape painting with mountains and water Basic art step-by-step training textbook

Author: Bai Ding
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-19
Features: To meet the societal demand for art education textbooks and cultivate 21st-century talents, our society, in line with the spirit of the "National General Rules for School Art Education," has invited professional art teachers from Shanghai University of Fine Arts, Shanghai Normal University Xingzhi College of Art, and East China Normal University to compile and illustrate the "Basic Art Step-by-Step Training Textbook" series. The aim is to develop students' visual thinking skills, artistic aesthetic abilities, and innovative spirit through painting technique training. This series is comprehensive, richly illustrated, and easy to understand, making it suitable as both a professional and amateur art training textbook and a reference for copying. Whether for beginners or those with some, it offers practical guidance.
Chinese landscape painting emerged before the Warring States period, flourished in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, was established in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and reached its peak in the Sui and Tang dynasties. Early landscape paintings were merely backgrounds for figures. By the Eastern Jin and Northern and Southern Dynasties, landscape painting gradually became an independent genre. Notable figures of this period include Gu Kaizhi, later known as the "Three Perfections," Dai Kui, a pioneer in landscape painting, and Xie He of the Southern Qi dynasty, who systematically proposed the "Six Principles of Chinese Painting Criticism" in his Classic Record of Ancient Paintings. Other outstanding painters of the same era include Lu Tuanwei, Zhang Sengyou, and Cao Zhongda.
Beginners should choose models that combine rich traditional techniques with ample room for copying, allowing them to not only learn techniques and appreciate natural scenery but also prepare for independent creation in the future. Carefully study the models, understanding their composition, mountain and rock formations, various brushwork techniques, tree styles, and the interplay of light and shadow in the entire scene. Only after fully grasping their essence and having a clear understanding should you start practicing.
Beginners should not rush to achieve success. When learning painting techniques, adopt a step-by-step approach, starting with small steps and gradually accumulating knowledge—from simple to complex, from basic to advanced—until your skills improve. When copying, avoid mechanical reproduction, as it may lead to rigid and stiff brushwork. Remember, copying is merely a means and transition for mastering basic skills, not the ultimate goal.
Beginners should also draw inspiration from related arts, such as calligraphy. The brushwork in landscape painting—whether for trees, rocks, outlines, or textures—mirrors calligraphy techniques. A solid foundation in calligraphy greatly benefits the study of Chinese painting.
This volume avoids unnecessary details, directly focuses on key points, and emphasizes the connections between concepts, presenting the fundamental elements of landscape painting. The intention is to help friends learn landscape painting efficiently and achieve twice the result with half the effort.