Learn from Scratch: A Beginner's Guide to Chinese Painting
When you think of Chinese painting, you might think of Qi Baishi's shrimp or Xu Beihong's horses. But Chinese painting isn't as "aloof" as it seems; it's more like a "brush and ink game" that allows you to express your thoughts.
I. First, Understand: What Makes Chinese Painting So "Special"?
Firstly, Chinese painting emphasizes "artistic conception" even more than "capturing the spirit." For example, when you paint a bird, you don’t have to draw every single feather exactly. Instead, you should show how lively it looks when it sits on a branch. When painting landscapes, you aren’t just copying a photo — you’re capturing the amazing, grand feeling of the mountains and rivers as you see them.
Second, its tools are very special. The "classic trio" — brush, rice paper, and ink — can make totally different effects. You can create light or dark shades, and wet or dry textures with them. That’s one of the most interesting things about Chinese painting.
Finally, Chinese painting has two main styles: "gongbi" (meticulous brushwork) and "xieyi" (freehand brushwork). Gongbi is like the "careful style" — the lines are neat, and the colors are soft and detailed. It’s great for painting flowers, birds, and people. Xieyi is the "bold style" — the brushstrokes are simple and free. For example, you can quickly sketch orchids or bamboo with it. As a beginner, starting with Xieyi will make it easier to find enjoyment.
II. Prepare Your Tools: Don't Buy Anything Too Expensive, Just Something Practical
Many people think that learning Chinese painting requires spending a lot of money on equipment, but in fact, entry-level tools are very cost-effective. Just remember the principle of "less is more."
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Brushes: "Mixed hair brushes" are the most suitable. Brushes are divided into sheep hair (soft), wolf hair (stiff), and mixed hair (medium softness and stiffness). Mixed hair brushes are easy to control and are good for both drawing lines and applying color. Buy one "large white cloud" (medium size) and one "small wolf hair" (small size) to paint large areas and details respectively.
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Xuan Paper: Beginners should avoid expensive "raw Xuan paper" (it absorbs water quickly and is difficult to control). Choose "sized Xuan paper" or "semi-sized Xuan paper". Sized Xuan paper doesn't absorb much water, making it suitable for practicing lines; semi-sized Xuan paper has moderate absorption, making it ideal for freehand painting. You can start by buying a ream (100 sheets) in bulk so you won't feel bad about using it for practice.
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Ink and Inkstone: Use bottled ink. Choose a small plastic or ceramic inkstone, mainly used for adjusting the ink concentration. A regular inkstone will suffice.
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Pigments: Buy a set of 12 or 24 colors of "Chinese painting pigments"; tubes are the most convenient. Commonly used colors include: indigo, gamboge, ochre, cinnabar, and carmine. Don't aim for a complete set at the beginning.
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Other Small Tools: A small dish for water (for mixing pigments), a piece of absorbent scrap Xuan paper (for wiping the brush), and a small ruler (for occasionally drawing straight lines). You might find substitutes for these at home.
III. The First Step to Mastering Chinese Painting: Mastering Brushwork is More Important Than Creating a Complete Work
The essence of Chinese painting lies in "brush and ink". Just as learning to write requires practicing strokes, learning to paint requires mastering "brushwork". Don't rush into painting flowers, birds, landscapes, or other natural subjects. Spend 1-2 weeks practicing the basics; things will become smoother later.
1. Holding the Brush: Unlike Writing, It Requires "Firm Fingers and a Hollow Palm"
When holding a brush, pinch the handle with your index finger and thumb, place your middle finger against the outside of the handle, and gently support the bottom of the handle with your ring and little fingers. Keep your palm hollow, as if holding an egg, so the brush can move flexibly. Your hand may tremble at first; don't panic. Practice writing the characters "一," "丨," "丿," and "丶" for 10 minutes each day, and you'll quickly adapt.
2. Practicing Ink: Mixing "Five Colors of Ink" and Experiencing Its Variations
Ink isn't just black. By adding different amounts of water, you can create five levels: "burnt," "thick," "dark," "light," and "clear" — this is the "five colors of ink".
When you practice, pour a little ink into your inkstone. Add a small bit of water to make thick ink first. Then keep adding water slowly — this will make dark ink, light ink, and very pale ink, one after another.
Dip your brush in each kind of ink (thick, dark, light, pale) and draw straight horizontal lines on rice paper. Feel how different the lines look: thick ink makes strong, bold lines, while light ink makes soft, gentle ones. That’s the special magic of Chinese painting!
3. Practice Lines: Draw "Orchid Leaves" and "Bamboo" to Build a Solid Foundation
Lines are the skeleton of Chinese painting, and the best way to practice lines is by drawing orchid leaves and bamboo.
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Drawing Orchid Leaves: First practice "one long stroke, two short strokes, three strokes to break the phoenix eye." The first stroke is a long line from left to right, the brush tip should be steady, don't tremble; the second stroke is a short line, intersecting with the first stroke; the third stroke adds a short line at the intersection, forming a shape like a "phoenix eye." Practice 20 sets every day, and you will gradually be able to draw lines with varying degrees of weight.
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Drawing Bamboo: First practice the bamboo stalks, using dark ink to draw vertical lines that are thinner at the top and thicker at the bottom, giving them a strong, lifelike quality. Next, practice the bamboo joints, drawing short horizontal lines on the stalks, leaving a small gap between the joints. Finally, practice the bamboo leaves, using combinations of the shapes "个" or "介" (ge), drawing the leaves with a quick, sharp stroke.
IV. Creating Initial Artwork: Start with Simple Subjects; A Sense of Accomplishment is Important
Once you've mastered the basics, you can begin drawing more complete small works. A tip for choosing subjects: start with subjects that have few lines and simple shapes, such as gourds, persimmons, or small fish. Don't immediately attempt landscapes or figures.
Case 1: Drawing a "Cute Little Fish"
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Use light ink to draw a comma shape; this is the fish's body, with a heavier brush tip and a lighter brush end.
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Draw a small dot at the head of the comma for the eye, and a small triangle for the mouth.
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Use dark ink to draw the fish's dorsal and caudal fins; make the caudal fin larger, like a fan.
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Mix indigo and light ink to color the fish, leaving the belly blank. This will make the fish appear lifelike.
It's okay if your first drawing doesn't look quite right. Chinese painting emphasizes "not seeking exact resemblance, but seeking the spirit." Compare your drawing to a model after each session, noting any areas where the lines aren't smooth enough, and improve next time. Well-done pieces can be framed and hung on your desk; the sense of accomplishment will motivate you to keep drawing.
V. Advanced Tips: Make Your Paintings More "Traditional Chinese Painting Flavor"
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Observe Life More: Chinese painting emphasizes "learning from nature." For example, before painting chrysanthemums, go to a park and observe how the petals curl; when painting birds, observe their posture on branches. Remember the details of life, and your paintings will become more vivid.
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Copy Masterpieces: Find some introductory copybooks, such as Qi Baishi's flowers and birds, or Wu Changshuo's fruits and vegetables, and copy them. Copying is not "copying," but learning the masters' brushwork techniques — such as how they use ink and how they compose — and gradually making it your own.
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Learn to "Leave White Space": This is a key technique in Chinese painting. For example, when painting landscapes, don't fill the entire canvas; leave a blank space for "clouds" or "water"; when painting small fish, leave blank space around them, as if the fish are swimming in water. Blank space doesn't mean "unfinished," but rather gives the viewer room for imagination.
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Add Your Own Ideas: Once you're proficient, you can add small creative touches to your paintings. For example, when painting a gourd, add a ladybug to the vine; when painting bamboo, add a small bird beside it. Chinese painting is inherently about expressing emotions; what makes your painting truly special is the thought that resides within it.
VI. Avoiding Pitfalls: 3 Common Mistakes Beginners Make
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Don't buy expensive tools: Beginners using expensive brushes and rice paper may feel pressured and hesitant to paint boldly. It's better to upgrade your equipment after 3-6 months of practice and building a foundation.
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Don't rush: Many people want to create complex works after only a few days of practice, resulting in increasing frustration. Chinese painting emphasizes "slow and steady wins the race." Practicing for 30 minutes daily is far more effective than practicing for 3 hours straight on the weekend.
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Don't be afraid of making mistakes: It's okay to make a mistake on rice paper; just use another sheet. Sometimes, a seemingly "wrong" line can have unexpected effects; for example, a careless stroke of light ink might resemble a distant cloud.
Learning Chinese painting is like cultivating plants; it requires patience and perseverance. It may take 1-2 months from holding the pen and practicing lines to drawing your first complete work!
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Founded in Shanghai, China, Sigurai later expanded its gallery to Hangzhou—two cities that boast profound cultural heritage and a thriving community of creative local artists. This unique advantage allows us to continuously discover fresh, original artworks that carry the essence of Chinese creativity.
Every decorative painting we offer is a hand-painted original, complete with the artist’s hand-signed signature—ensuring no two pieces are identical. From curating artworks and conducting strict quality checks to providing professional framing, we adhere to high standards at every step to guarantee excellence. Many of our collaborating artists have showcased their works in international exhibitions, and their pieces are also collected by government institutions, a testament to their artistic value and recognition.
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