Art Teaching Series of Gongsixiao Watercolor Sketching: Northern Style

Author: Gong Liuzhao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features:
1. The beauty of nature's scenery comes from various factors. The alternation of seasons brings changes in scenery and climate, creating different visual and physical sensations. When both sight and body and mind are pleased, the desire to pursue beauty naturally arises, leading people to seek it out in nature, to experience it, and to depict it. So, when is the beauty of the four seasons most apparent? This is a matter of personal opinion—, . Perhaps artists prefer the following scenes.
Spring. The sunlight of spring is bright, warm, and pleasant. Bathed in spring light, facing the that emerges after all things awaken, one's body, wisdom, and inspiration also awaken. The warmth of the body accelerates blood flow, and the passion for creation beats in rhythm with the green world. Green mountains, green waters, and green fields nourish a green heart, achieving a perfect and harmonious unity between nature and humanity in the spring light. In such a season, painting becomes a natural flow of the heart, with beautiful scenes unfolding effortlessly. (Fig. 1)
Summer Rain. Even indoors, the stifling heat of summer makes one sweat profusely, and outdoors, the scorching sun drives people away, making it unbearable to stay long. The most beautiful weather in this season is likely the rain. It drives away the suffocating heat, and on rainy nights, people can sleep soundly under the accompaniment of raindrops. After the rain and the sky clears, rainbows arc across the sky, a cool breeze rustles, and the slightly damp air is filled with the rich fragrance of fertile soil. Immersed in this, facing a refreshed world after being washed clean, one feels at ease and refreshed, with eyes sparkling. This is a rare opportunity for painting. Even in heavy rain, gazing out the window at the dazzling spectacle of the wind and lightning is an excellent subject to capture the thrilling moment on canvas. (Fig. 2)
Autumn Colors. In autumn, forests are laden with fruits, and plants shed their green leaves, adorned in festive attire, swaying and dancing in the autumn wind. Autumn unfolds a magnificent tapestry of colors for the painter: red, orange, and yellow in the mountains, and green, blue, and azure in the water. The vibrant hues are intoxicating, leaving one lost in their beauty. Sitting alone in the mountains, observing the painted hills and listening to the rustling of falling leaves, one realizes "there is profound meaning here" yet "words fail to express it." Thus, all feelings are poured onto the brush, creating colorful masterpieces in the autumn hues. Even in late autumn, when the cold wind sweeps the remaining leaves, the scene captured in a painting carries a beauty of imperfection. Autumn is a harvest season for farmers, and for landscape painting, it is no different. (Fig. 3)
Winter Snow. In recent years, due to global warming, snow in winter has become rarer, especially in northern China, where winter snow is a rare sight. Thus, snow scenes are cherished by painters in this region. Winter snow is pure and flawless, bringing a sense of purity to the heart. The magnificent scenery of "the northern land's scenery, a thousand miles of ice sealed, ten thousand miles of snow drifting" inspires a surge of. Whenever there is snow, painters will go to great lengths to capture its beauty through various means. They can sketch through indoor glass windows or venture into open fields and mountains to photograph the beauty of snow, then use artistic creation to fully express the beauty and grandeur of winter snow. (Fig. 4)