Customer Reviews

Chinese Brush Painting: A Complete Painting Kit for Beginners

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I would like to say that I don't usually gush. In fact I'm generally pretty critical in my reviews. That said, this book is beautiful, and more than I could have hoped for. Beyond the basics kit as listed above, there is a booklet that is thirty-two pages long. It has fifteen projects in it that are described stroke by stroke. When I was a kid I had an drawing book that walked the reader through drawing a picture by starting with a rectangle, then you drew a circle on one corner, etc., until you have an elephant or whatever. This is sort of on those lines, but the elegance and simplicity of the finished picture is beyond my ability to describe. Lucy Wang does exactly the style of Chinese watercolor that I most admire, where with a few simple brush strokes she captures life, movement, expression and character. Of course, I can't begin to replicate her paintings, but by mimicking her strokes, I can get the idea of the repetoire of brushstrokes available to me. I'm going to keep practicing until my practice pictures look recognizable and then I feel I will have enough technique to try to develop my own style. All this from a 32 page booklet! Yes, either I am delusional, or this is a really good book. The kit is simple, but everything is good quality. Only five sheets of watercolor paper didn't last vey long, but it's the standard stuff you can get at any art store, or even Fred Meyers (is F.M. a national chain? -- sorry, I don't know.) I am grateful to the earlier reviewer who suggested gettting newsprint paper to practice on. It doesn't absorb the same as watercolor paper, but it's just fine for early doodles. The paints are just standard watercolors, but the brushes are good quality, or better than good enough for me, anyway.

Lucy Wang, through Walter Foster books, has put together, as it states, a complete painting kit for beginners of Chinese Brush. Although the ink stick,ink dish and water dish are small, it gives the beginner enough to get started. The brushes are of fine quality and her book is fantastic! I bought it for a grand-daughter, and I know she is going to love it. Having taken Chinese Brush for a few years now, I love Lucy's additions to her book ... especially the siamese cat!

I took a class in Brush Painting years ago. This book is just what I needed to refresh and start painting again. The supplies were not the highest quaility but they get you started and the price is right. Once you start you will get hooked.

Lucy Wang's Chinese Brush Painting: A Complete Painting Kit for Beginners was just what I wanted. I would recommend this relatively inexpensive kit to anyone who wants to explore Chinese brush painting technique. One may want to suppliment the kit with simple unprinted newsprint paper or Sumi paper until you master the brush strokes. My next Amazon purchase will be a more detailed book on Chinese brush stroke technique.
I was very pleased with this kit.

I was thrilled when I received my kit. It has everything you need to get started and specific details to help you along the way. In painting a flower, it even details how the brush stroke should look, which direction, how much pressure. All you need to complete a beautiful piece of art is yourself and some fun! Definitly recommend for beginners looking for help and ideas.

The book is very good, but the brushes are of poor quality. Most of the other supplies are good. I will have to replace one or two of the brushes to use this kit.

This kit is great. I bought it and the Brush Painting for Animals so that my kids (7 and 11) and I could do some art together. The inkstone, ink, paints and brushes are really cool, in the words of the 11 year old. The instructions are good, and all you really need to add is a pad of newsprint paper ($1.59 at Hobby Lobby). As an introductory kit, this is great.

This kit includes all of the items you need to get started. This kit, along with the book, The Chinese Brush Painting Bible: Over 200 Motifs with Step-by-Step Illustrated Instructions will make you proficient at Chinese Brush Painting.

Easy to read and understand! Even my 8-year-old can follow steps in the book. Good price for the book and tools (brushes, paints and papers...)

Was very pleased with the product. The guide was quite easy to follow, and offered a good array of projects for the beginner. The included tools and materials make it quite easy and fun to jump in and get started.