Techniques of Flower-and-Bird Painting Creation: From Photography to Creation

Author: Zhang Yuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-11-01
Features: This book boldly draws inspiration from photographic images, introducing the schematic transformation from the life reality of photography to the artistic reality of painting. Through the contrast between photography and painting, it becomes clear how the imagery of painting is distilled and generalized from the imagery of photography, and how the brushwork and colors of painting are extracted and generalized from the light and shadow of photography. Such painting, while drawing on and utilizing photographic images, is by no means about "competing with the camera for credit." The author reawakens the belief in Chinese painting circles that "life is the only source of artistic creation" and reminds us that we possess more means and techniques than Tang and Song dynasty painters to "learn from nature and find the source within the heart." This undoubtedly points a path for the vast majority of painters and those learning to paint—a legitimate and authentic path that can be achieved through accumulated effort, though not an easy shortcut. For a long time, photography faced resistance from many painters. To draw a line between "competing with the camera for credit," refusing to use photographic techniques became a fundamental principle for many. Even today, as more painters begin to use photography and even video technology to complement their painting, they still hesitate to openly acknowledge it in words. However, the author boldly draws on photographic images, introducing the schematic transformation from the life reality of photography to the artistic reality of painting, teaching others how to fish and gaining widespread popularity. Through the contrast between photography and painting, we can clearly see how the imagery of painting is distilled and generalized from the imagery of photography, and how the brushwork and colors of painting are extracted and generalized from the light and shadow of photography. Such painting, while drawing on and utilizing photographic images, is by no means about "competing with the camera for credit."