Painting Techniques
Chinese painting developed specialized brush techniques for specific effects. From texture strokes that suggest geological features to splashed ink that captures spontaneity, these methods expand the expressive range of brush and ink.
Texture Strokes
Texture strokes create the appearance of rock surfaces, tree bark, and other natural features. Different stroke patterns suggest different geological formations. Mastery requires understanding both technique and natural forms being depicted.
Wash and Splash Techniques
Wash and shade uses diluted ink for tonal gradations. Water splash and powder splash introduce liquid or pigment for unpredictable effects. Splashed ink and color abandon brush control for spontaneous, accidental beauty.
Finger Painting
Finger painting uses hands and fingers instead of brushes, creating distinctive marks impossible with conventional tools. The technique emphasizes direct connection between artist and medium, eliminating the brush as intermediary.