Related
Activity
Artists of all cultures must be very conscious of and knowledgeable
about the materials they use. For Chinese artists the choice of whether to use
paper or silk,
color pigments or ink
alone was as important as theme and painting style.
Take two pieces
of paper and create a composition of bamboo on each. A grove of bamboo appears
to the right of Wang Xizhi in the painting above. On the first page, draw the
stalks with colored pencils or markers, making them look as realistic as possible
(use different shades and colors; give the stalks and leaves volume and describe
their textures; are the leaves blowing in the wind?). On the second page, use
only black ink or gray pencil. Rather than describing what the bamboo actually
looks like, concentrate on creating a pleasing array of lines that suggest movement
and energy. Note the differences between the two images.
When you next
visit the Metropolitan Museum, look for paintings that show bamboo painted with
both methods. Consider how the materials affected the final appearance of the
paintings.
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