Pauline Cherrett Knihy

Pauline Cherett, critically acclaimed for her first book on Chinese brush painting, offers a followup for artists who want to learn more. Using dozens of projects and exquisite full-color illustrations, Cherett explains the “six canons” of Chinese painting; the basic materials (the “four treasures”); various strokes; composition, including the meticulous and the freestyle; and other interesting effects. Try painting flowers; birds, such as red crowned cranes; fruits and vegetables, animals, figures, landscapes, and more.

Chinese bird-and-flower painting is the greatest contribution Chinese artists have made to the world of art. Apart from being an independent genre with its aesthetic values, Chinese bird-and-flower painting can be taken as a basic course for studying composition, brushwork and ink - a necessary preparation for the creation of all genres of Chinese painting. Specially prepared for Western readers, this manual with 250 colour illustrations is a step-by-step course of Chinese bird-and-flower painting. A brief history of this great art tradition is included in the manual.

Chinese painting prior to the 20th century achieved great success in depictions of landscapes. To engage in such a genre, either wholeheartedly or as a dilettante, is an exciting experience.