As one of the most therapeutic styles of Chinese painting in China, Chinese brush painting has been regarded as the most difficult thing in learning Chinese painting. Ninety-nine percent of learning to paint this way is attitude.

 

The single most astonishing fact about Chinese Brush Painting is that each brush stroke is a defining move that produces a portion of the painting that is neither improved upon nor corrected.  No sketch is prepared and no model is used; the artist paints with rapid, mentally constructed strokes transporting a 'mind image' to mulberry paper.

From first to last stroke, the artist must 'get it right' while in Western watercolor corrections and over painting are a part of the technique.

Chinese Brush Painting is meant to be more than a representation of an object; it is also a symbolic expression. This is why a full plant is never painted, but rather a few blossoms which will represent the plant in its entirety, and, in fact, all of life - a TAO principle. Rather than looking at the subject as you paint, you bringing it forth from your mind and heart and becoming part of nature.

And, in each painting there will almost always be a "Host" which is the larger and stronger flower, tree, etc, and there is also a "Guest" which is indicated by being smaller.

It was necessary to attain the proper state of mind, to create a mind free of everyday cares that was willing to let the hand freely create. And the materials needed for drawing Chinese brush painting include bamboo brush, rice paper and so on.

 

After your painting session, the bristles should be gently washed with warm water and mild soap, and then gently rolled across a towel to remove excess water. Smooth the bristles to a fine point and hang or lay flat to dry.