Water Colour Painting ( Chinese Style )

Some years ago, I went to a demonstration of Chinese watercolour painting and calligraphy. It was fascinating but there was a bit too much mystique attached to it. I have seen some wonderful pictures painted by a Japanese artist, in the Japanese style, in exhibitions here - she paints mostly fish, but some floral subjects and they are superb. Best way to find out is to give it a go and see if you can generate any interest. Never give up on a skill.

If you want to know whether it would be worth starting again just to sell the paintings, I don't know, I'm afraid.

But if you enjoyed painting, surely you don't need a reason?

To artygran and Ana , Thank you so much for your extremely prompt
reply - yes " never give up on a skill " and " yes you do not need a
reason" ! I did find it was very interesting trying out the various styles
of both using the brush and loading it and having loaded the brush with
say 3 or 4 different colours, then applying it but ' honest ' there is not a
lot of mystique about it . I think I will take your comments with me and
have another go , but this time think about exhibiting one . Having said
that though it was about mid 2010 when I last painted one !

Regards

Terry .

Good luck!

Thanks again smile

I like the look of the painting you have put on your profile. Have you thought about trying to sell one on Ebay? There are lots of Chinese pictures for sale there and pictures 'in the Chinese style' might be equally popular.

To annodomini , Thank you for that comment , yes I did think about
EBay to see if there is any interest but the thoughts of packing a
picture with a thin glass front and putting it in the post tended to put me
off . You know , strange as it may seem , one of the things that attracts
me to chinese painting is the Calligraphy and the " Chop " (signature),
apart from the more unusual style . I have seen those on EBay and you
are right it may be worth looking more seriously in that direction ,
although I did not intend making a career out of it - time is catching
up with me ! I am pleased you have seen those on my profile ,
unfortunately all my better ones have been given away .
Thanks .

Are their any art shows in your area where amateurs like you and I can put forward their work for exhibition? We have one here in Sheffield once a year and anyone can put forward work for consideration. There is also a cafe in a local park which has a wall where local artists can exhibit their work for sale. Have you thought of joining an art club? All the ones I know have at least one exhibition a year where they sell their work. I used to belong to one - we all had different styles and levels of expertise but it was good fun. It would also get you back into the groove if you haven't had a brush in your hand for a while.

Harvatt there is also Folksy where you can put all kinds of handmade things on sale.

artygran, unfortunalely I have been unable to get about much for the
last year or so and have lost touch some what in that direction. I have
enquired at two I thought would be likely but without success , - and I have
not considered an Art Club but there is a thought, I shall certainly look
into that. I feel I need some motivation from some where to weald that
brush again, I have everything I need at hand just the effort lacking.
Thanks again for your interest .
To Elegran _ I have not come across Folksy, I will have a look at that.

Regards .

Just had a quick look at the paintings on your profile. They look very much more professional than mine did when I had a go some years ago! I could never really get the hang of the chinese way of using a brush - I think I'm probably just too sloppy. If you have access to a printer as well as a computer have you thought of printing your own greetings cards? I would have thought you flowers would make lovely cards and printing them yourself would mean you wouldn't be tied to the huge quantities commercial printers work in. Perhaps you could find a local outlet for them?

To Deeda , Thank you for your kind comment with ref. to paintings.
As happens I do have a Laptop and a printer and have thought about
your idea a time or two. My problem at the moment is motivation - I am
trying hard thinking about starting up painting again after 2 1/2 years
away but cannot seem to get going - too many other distractions
I guess , maybe if I can start painting again the cards may follow.
I do agree the right type of flowers do lend themselves to cards
particularly if done by hand.

Thank you again .

I do know what you mean about motivation, which is why it might be a good idea to try and join an art group. In my experience, it is one of the best ways to get your motivation back, because there is no better incentive than painting with other like-minded people. I had a constant stream of work going on and in the summer we would go out somewhere and paint. I left my art group because we moved house and it became too far to travel. Almost as soon as I left, I stopped painting and it took me a long time to start again. I've just discovered there is a group at my local library, so I am going to pop along to have a look at them. I hope you get back into it soon; you obviously have a talent and it would be a shame not to use it.

I know just what you meanharvatt I would be ashamed to admit how long it is since I've done any proper painting! I'm retired, my grandson isn't taking up so much time now he's at school, and my husband's health is better than it's been for ages, I've got nothing to stop me. The only thing I haven't got is the motivation. My New Year's Resolution will have to be Stop Making Excuses!

To artygran ,Thanks again for your interest and of course
interesting comments. it is a long while since I paid a visit to our
local library but I do remember an Art Club advertising now I come
to think about it and indeed it did mention Chinese Style. I will have
to go back in and have a look around .
Kind regards .

To Deedaa - You are right on the mark . I am in a similar position
and yes the operative phrase has to be ' Stop Making Excuses ' , I
will give it until after Christmas and see what I can do . I feel I have
got to be wasting some time somewhere along the line .
Kind regards .

Thank you all for the interest and encouragement you have
shown in the brief period that has transpired since I came
onto this superb Forum .

Kind regards to all .

Hope you have a good Christmas harvatt and start the New Year full of inspiration and I shall try and do the same

Glad husband's health a lot better, but you know - does it matter how
long since you have done any ' proper ' painting ' if the desire is still
around or in the backgroud . I think you are probably a bit like me you
will get round to it in your own time - at least I hope that will be the
case and I sincerely hope it will be with yourself .

So may I wish you a Happy Christmas and a good new year also ,
likewise - one of inspiration Deedaa .

Chinese painting are most about birds, flowers, mountain, water and so on, I think Chinese painting is not so popular as before. In fact, Chinese painting is very hard to learn. In fact, I prefer oil painting to Chinese painting.

There are many people who are into it as well, I am a Chinese painting color enthusiasm, For the past years I have learned skills of it as well, but it is really not that simple to manipulate, for it needs years of practice! I am sure that your works worth your insistence, harvatt, Flowers are great, Many of us love flowers, they looks so delicate!

I have been to some extent out action since my last posting ,
but think I might just have ' hopefully ' got started painting
again . I have just produced another Chinese Style painting
which will be a gift for a friend's 50 th birthday it is only
in a 14" by 11" frame but I have not only painted it but I
have done the framing as well . You know one of the attractions
of this style of painting to me is the Calligraphy and the 'Chop ' .
It seems to give a picture a whole new meaning . I will attempt
to put it on my photo gallery .
Regards Terry

Can anyone help assist me - I have four photos I would
like to delete from my Gallery , one is a duplicated
photo. I cannot see any way of doing it . Thanks .
regards Terry