A Thousand Variations of Painted Orchids and Chrysanthemums -- Series Two of the New Chinese Painting Training

Author: Yang Hongwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: Orchids, chrysanthemums, bamboos, and plum blossoms are collectively known as the "Four Gentlemen" in flowers, and have been common subjects for poets and artists throughout history. Orchids are evergreen with gracefully spreading leaves and an elegant demeanor. They bloom in spring, emitting a fragrant and refreshing scent with a distant and serene aura. Chrysanthemums bloom in autumn when the cold wind blows and frost attacks. While most flowers wither, chrysanthemums stand tall and flourish, spreading a golden hue. Painters depict chrysanthemums to express their resilient and fearless spirit. Orchids and chrysanthemums are relatively simple to paint, making them easy for beginners to learn. The key to painting orchids lies in mastering the interweaving and arrangement of their leaves, and once this is resolved, the technique for painting orchids is already mastered to a large extent. The character "" (chrysanthemum) originated from "," which was also written as "," meaning "two hands holding." This implies that when chrysanthemums bloom, they resemble hands being held together. Understanding this helps in painting chrysanthemum petals more easily. This book introduces the basic painting techniques for the leaves, flowers, and stems of orchids, as well as the flowers, leaves, and stems of chrysanthemums separately. Finally, these parts are combined to create a variety of orchids and chrysanthemums.