Chinese Brush Painting Step by Step [Spiral-bound]

Kwan Jung (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2002

Sumi-E, or Chinese brush painting, is admired and emulated by artists the world over. This beautiful and inspiring book shows painters of all interests and skill levels how to achieve the fluid, spontaneous style of this unique art form.

Through 12 step-by-step projects, readers will learn how to paint a range of popular subjects using traditional Chinese inks, brushes and papers. Projects gradually increase in difficulty, and feature such subjects as swallows, bamboo, wild orchids, plum blossoms, pandas, horses, peonies and more.

An introductory chapter explains the traditional materials used with this style of painting, its subjects and its composition. There is also an indepth section on technique that covers everything from holding brushes to mastering brush strokes.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Jung's introductory book on Chinese brush painting is dependent on full-color illustrations. Starting with a metric conversion chart and boasting copious illustrations, the instructions first demonstrate the finer points of brush selection and grip, then progress to mastering the elements of brushwork in a series of exercises that focuses on balance, concentration, dispersion, and the use of value to create perspective. Consistent with the Asian devotion to nature-themed subjects, Jung's examples include depictions of prawns, swallows, bamboo, and wild orchids that help novices vary wet and dry brush technique for contrast and use black ink with color for special delineation. Whitney Scott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (December 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581802072
• ISBN-13: 978-1581802078
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 8.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #785,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars enchanting, August 10, 2007

By 

Eija (MD, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chinese Brush Painting Step by Step (Spiral-bound)

The book is easy to read (and I'm not speaking English as mother tongue), clear plus pictures and paintings are gorgeous from cover till the last page. I find this book over and over again from my hand. Also contents are excellent, speaking of learning how to paint. Although I have taken one basic course in Chinese painting, it still gave me more information including the repetition of the basics. I only can recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the technique. I already bought one extra for a student of mine.

27 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars chinese brush painting step by step, December 27, 2003

By 

tony cerreto (Toms River, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chinese Brush Painting Step by Step (Spiral-bound)

I am drawn to Chinese brush painting by its emphasis on form, simplicity and elegance. I also love the use of pen and ink and watercolor. This book is a beautiful introduction and has made me want to read more as I begin to paint in this centuries-old tradition. In my search for serenity and beauty in Nature, Chinese brush painting has calmed my restless soul. Truly a wonderful book!

Tony Cerreto

10 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars French edition, March 2, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Chinese Brush Painting Step by Step (Spiral-bound)

This book has been translated into FRENCH and is selling now. It is about painting, about art. The French Title is " La Peinture Chinoise, pas a' pas".ISBN: 2-215-07592-9 It is good enough for France to have a translaed copy is good enough to be rated 5 stars.