Chinese Brush Painting Course

What you'll learn

Learn Chinese ink painting with our painting courses in Sydney!

Chinese brush painting is a captivating art form that combines calligraphy and painting techniques using ink and brush. It is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and has a rich history spanning centuries. By immersing yourself in this art form, you can explore the beauty of Chinese painting and develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between calligraphy and painting.

In this course, you will have the opportunity to delve into the world of Chinese brush painting and learn about the Four Gentlemen or Four Noble Ones, which hold significant symbolic meanings in Chinese plant painting. Each of the Four Gentlemen represents a season: Winter is represented by the Plum Blossom, Spring by the Orchid, Summer by the Bamboo, and Autumn by the Chrysanthemum. Understanding the symbolism behind these plants will enhance your ability to express the essence of each season in your paintings.

Your tutor will provide valuable guidance on brush control, calligraphy skills, and ink and water control. These fundamental techniques are crucial for creating a beautiful and harmonious paintings of bamboo. You will have the opportunity to learn from samples provided by your tutor, gaining inspiration and insight into the traditional Chinese painting style.

Whether you are a beginner or have some experience in art, Chinese brush painting offers a rewarding journey into the ancient world of ink and brush. The combination of calligraphy and painting techniques will broaden your artistic horizons and allow you to express yourself in a new and culturally rich way.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this Chinese painting course, you should be able to:

• Have an understanding of the history behind the 4 classical Chinese painting categories: figures, birds, plants & landscape
• Understand the symbolic meaning in Chinese plant painting: Representing 4 Seasons from Winter-Plum, Spring-Orchid, Summer-Bamboo, Autumn- Chrysanthemum.
• Use ink and water to create light and shade in your painting
• Create a painting combining calligraphy skills and brush techniques

After finishing this course, you might like to enrol in one of our Calligraphy Courses. 

Course content

• Brush control and calligraphy skills: This involves learning how to handle the brush effectively and mastering calligraphy techniques. These skills are crucial for creating different brushstrokes and achieving desired effects in bamboo painting.
• Ink and water control: A key aspect of painting a picture of bamboo is finding the right balance between ink and water to achieve the desired darkness and shading. You will learn how to adjust the proportion of ink and water to create varying tones and textures in your bamboo artwork.
• Bamboo stems and branches: This part of the course focuses on mastering the techniques for depicting bamboo stems and branches. You will learn how to control brush movements and apply the correct ink darkness to accurately represent these elements of bamboo.
• Leaves and combination: Starting with a single bamboo leaf, you will gradually progress to painting combinations of multiple leaf bunches. This will allow you to develop your skills in depicting different leaf shapes, sizes, and arrangements while maintaining a cohesive composition.
• Copying a small-scale bamboo painting: As part of the course, you may have the opportunity to replicate a small-scale bamboo painting provided by the teacher. This exercise helps you apply the skills you've learned and gain practical experience in creating bamboo artwork.

Intended audience

Who is this for? 

• This course is open to beginners and individuals with previous calligraphy experience or any artist looking to explore a new style of art.

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd on the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

What to bring to class

If you wish to use your own materials please bring the following:

•  1 × medium line brush (brown hair), 1 × smaller line brush (brown)
•  Chinese paper (roll or pad)
•  Chinese ink

Brushes, ink and Chinese paper are provided. 

Additional information

• Closed-in shoes required
• Please wear old clothes and/or bring an apron
• Long hair must be tied back