Freestyle painting is also known as literati painting, or in Chinese ‘Xie Yi’ – literally meaning to write an idea; the Chinese painting technique of the artist scholar more interested in personal expression than accuracy, detail, or merely a beautiful painted surface.

What is special about Chinese painting?

Compared to Western art, Chinese painting is more concerned with water based techniques, rather than oils or acrylics. In addition, Chinese painting is traditionally more stylized, more abstract and less realistic than Western types.

What is the difference between Gong B and shui mo painting techniques?

There are two main types of Guohua: ‘Gongbi’ 工筆, which uses colour ink in small amounts and is extremely detailed with fine brushwork; and ‘Shuimo’ 水墨, which uses either black ink in various concentrations or coloured ink and is usually done in a freer style, using few brush strokes and details but conveying the …

What is the highest form of art in China?

Many critics consider landscape to be the highest form of Chinese painting. The time from the Five Dynasties period to the Northern Song period (907–1127) is known as the “Great age of Chinese landscape”.

What are the two main techniques used in Chinese painting?

There are two main techniques in Chinese painting:

• Gongbi (工笔 /gong-bee/), literally ‘working pen’, is a meticulous style, rich in color and detailed brush strokes.
• Xieyi (写意 /sshyeah-ee/ ‘writing’ ), meaning “freehand”, is a looser style of painting, and usually used in landscapes.

What are the two main principles of Chinese painting as defined by the scholar Xie he?

The “Six Principles” have inevitably acquired new and even different meanings through the ages, but generally they may be paraphrased as follows: creativity (or “spirit resonance”), structural use of the brush, proper representation of objects, specific coloration of those objects, good composition, and transmission of …