Chinese Brush Painting Workshop

Learn Chinese brush painting with our painting courses in Sydney.

Join this hands-on workshop to learn the brush strokes and techniques used in free style Chinese brush painting, combining ink with watercolours.

Exploring the styles, composition and motifs of traditional Tang Dynasty painting, you’ll create your own scroll artwork to take home. As well as brush painting skills, you’ll learn about composition, symbolism and calligraphic elements as you discover the relaxing and reflective nature of this traditional art form.

Each workshop will reflect the season, with subjects relating to birds, flowers or landscapes.

Course outcomes

By the end of this workshop, beginners will:

• have learned some general history of Chinese brush painting
• have learned why landscape and natural motifs are so important in Chinese painting
• understand the characteristics of different Chinese paintbrushes and when to use them
• have learned new painting and drawing skills and techniques
• understand the structure of a composition and how to evaluate structure in your own work
• understand and demonstrate the balance between black and white in Chinese painting.

More experienced students will also:

• be able to demonstrate yin/yang balance in your own paintings
• have further developed your drawing and painting skills using different materials
• be able to evaluate your work and the work of masters.

Ideal for

This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as students with more experience who want to extend, practise and gain new skills. New students will learn the basics to set a solid foundation. Experienced students will develop their techniques by combining traditional and more contemporary elements.

Course content

• Chinese calligraphic strokes and painting techniques
• Using line and tone
• Different Chinese paintbrushes and when to use them
• The meaning behind the “four treasures” of Chinese brush painting
• Structure and composition of a Chinese landscape
• Applying red Chinese seal stamps

Please bring to class

• A sketchbook and pen
• Closed-in shoes
• Clothes you don’t mind getting paint on (or an apron)
• Long hair must be tied back

• Brushes will be provided, but if you wish to use your own, bring 1 × 12-15" line brush, 1 x colour brush and 1 x smaller line brush.

All other materials will be provided.