Birds in Brush and Ink (Recorded from a live workshop)

Learn how to paint birds with Chinese brush and ink.  Tutor Bethany Y Milam will introduce you to the materials and techniques used in brush and ink painting. The session will begin with a look at materials followed by demonstrations of various brush strokes and how to combine them to create a variety of studies of small birds, cranes, and birds of prey. Taking inspiration from traditional ‘Freestyle’ Chinese brush painting with an emphasis on brush control and spontaneous single brush strokes. This session will be a good introduction for those interested in Chinese brush painting as well as those wishing to practice controlled brush strokes and techniques that can be applied to watercolour and other forms of painting.

2 hour workshop recording plus PDF of slides and reference photos.

Materials needed:

Chinese brushes: a goat (white) and a wolf (brown) hair brush.

Black Chinese ink: either liquid ink or ink sticks with an ink stone.

Chinese painting paper (sized Xuan paper)

Palette/pots for ink and water pots

Paper Towels/Kitchen Paper

Chinese Paint (which is like gouache) or coloured ink sticks. (Optional)

Practice Paper (plain newsprint works well) (Optional)

Materials that may be used as substitutes: 

Gouache

Ink (Indian ink)

Any smooth paper suitable for watercolour or ink