Chinese calligraphy evening class

Discover the ancient art of calligraphy using the traditional Chinese brush and ink combination that has been in use for thousands of years.

Students can anticipate completing at least one piece of Chinese calligraphy artwork per class. The content can be selected from a range of options including a Chinese poem or perhaps a quotation from an ancient sage.

This class will focus on running style of Chinese calligraphy the semi-cursive style which is the mid point of the five styles: Seal; Clerical; Running (semi-cursive); Cursive; Regular. This is a more flowing style in which strokes are allowed to run into each other. It is most similar to hand-writing and can therefore be read more easily.

Time: 6.00 - 8.00pm
Dates: 8 & 25 April; 2, 9 & 23 May

Venue: Confucius Institute for Scotland Campus, Abden House, EH16 5HP
Click for more information and register

Chinese brush painting evening class

Chinese brush painting - Birds and Flowers

Time: 6.15 - 8.15pm on Thursdays
20th April - 18th May

Venue: PG102 (Postgraduate Centre)
Heriot-Watt University
Edinburgh
Eh14 4AS

In the spring term we are running a 5 week Chinese painting course focus on Birds and Flowers.

Birds and flowers painting were often used as decorative elements in pottery, appeared in screens and utensils. From Tang dynasty around the 8th and 9th centuries in China until today. Birds and flowers painting is a special school of Chinese brush paintings and it is widely popular for centuries. This 5 week course will start with introducing the history of Chinese painting then the common techniques related to the Chinese soft brushes and ink. Participants will have the option to select from a range of subjects demonstrated by the tutor, such as crane, oriole, kingfisher, lotus flower, Chinese orchid etc.

Students can anticipate completing at least one piece of Chinese painting artwork per class. Demonstration and plenty of personal attention will be provided during the class. This course is suitable for both beginners and advanced students.

Click to book

Chinese painting taster courses in the Lake District

Upcoming Courses

May 2017 TRY FOR A DAY: CHINESE PAINTING – MOUNTAIN & WATER (EVERYTHING PROVIDED)

May 15th at 10:00 to 17:00
Higham Hall College, Bassenthwaite Lake
Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 9SH United Kingdom
Extend your creativity by letting yourself be guided by an expert in a traditional craft reflecting both philosophy and tradition. This day focuses on Mountain and Water in Chinese landscape painting.

TRY FOR A DAY: CHINESE PAINTING – BIRDS & FLOWERS (EVERYTHING PROVIDED)

May 16th at 10:00 to 17:00
Higham Hall College, Bassenthwaite Lake
Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 9SH United Kingdom
Extend your creativity by letting yourself be guided by an expert in a traditional craft reflecting both philosophy and tradition. This day focuses on subjects like birds, fish & flowers.

For more information and to book

Chinese Calligraphy Course – January 2017

Chinese Calligraphy Course
Date and Time: Tuesdays 17 Jan - 14 Feb 2016 6pm-8pm
Duration: 5 weeks / 10 hours
Cost: £75 (£60 concession)

Abden House, 1 Marchhall Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 5HP

http://www.confuciusinstitute.ac.uk/announcements/chinese-calligraphy-winter2017/

Sky TV Landscape Artist of the Year

See below for clips of Chi Zhang join Sky TV Landscape Artist of the Year 2015.

Chi Zhang in Landscape artist of the Year 2015

Landscape artist of the Year 2015 start today 8pm Sky TV. My episode will be shown on Tuesday 10th November.

As the only artist using Chinese media the challenge is there!

Chinese calligraphy at Edinburgh Castle

Stunning projection of my originally calligraphy on Edinburgh Castle - Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2015, part of the Edinburgh festivals.

For those who do not yet read Chinese this translates as ‘Edinburgh Military Tattoo Welcomes Friends from China’.

THE WRITING ON YOU WALL

‘THE WRITING ON YOU WALL: One of the more popular courses at the Institute concerns perhaps the most identifiable Chinese artistic tradition – calligraphy and brush art. The course, taught by the affable Chi Zhang, sets out the fundamental techniques of Chinese calligraphy which form the basis of much of the country’s illustrative art.

To demonstrate, Zhang deftly inks the forms for “good luck” in four different brush styles, then points to the corresponding strokes in several traditional Chinese landscape paintings, where they make up the form of mountains, rivers and birds.

Zhang says: “The people taking the class are a real mix of ages, background and experience. It’s a great way into learning more about Chinese language and culture in general, and a skill you can continue to develop your whole life.”

ESPC Premier Living, Spring/Summer issue 2015

National Museums Scotland Ming Exhibition Trailer

National Museums Scotland commissioned my calligraphy in Ming Exhibition Trailer,
click here:

Ming: The Golden Empire from National Museums Scotland on Vimeo.

Calligraphy Demonstration for Ming Exhibition

I have been working on a calligraphy demonstration video project for Ming exhibition in National Museums Scotland. Exhibition start Friday 27 June.

Chinese Calligraphy in Amsterdam

Recently Chi Zhang been commissioned to create the Chinese calligraphy for Ming exhibition in Amsterdam. From 5 October 2013 to 2 February 2014, De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam present Ming: Emperors, Artists and Merchants in Ancient China. This exhibition tells the story of China’s Ming dynasty (1368–1644).

‘The East West Road’ drawing event

Hot on the heels of representing the UK at 2nd He Shun International Art Festival, China, Scottish artist Kate Downie set up her drawing board in Glasgow’s Chinatown with Chinese artist Chi Zhang.
While capturing the atmosphere of this unique corner of the city, a place where the East meets Glasgow, Kate and Chi compared their art styles and how different European drawing is to traditional Chinese ink painting.

Using the studies created in Chinatown, Kate will create ‘The East West Road’, a large-scale depiction of Chinatown drawn directly on to the walls of the RGI Kelly Gallery.

We invite you to participate in creating this unique work by coming along to live drawing events on

Friday 23rd August, 5pm – 8pm
Saturday 24th August, 10am – 1pm

Free event. No need to book.

http://www.royalglasgowinstitute.org/category/news-2/

Spring term evening class now available to book:

Discover the tranquillity and absorbtion of Chinese brush painting or calligraphy in our spring term running on Tuesday evenings from April-June 2012 - drop in classes are available as well as block bookings.

For absolute beginners workshop leader Chi Zhang will introduce the practice of basic strokes and gradually help students to develop their own style of brush painting or calligraphic writing. For the more advanced student there is the opportunity to continue to develop their style choosing from a range of subjects.

For the spring term there is the option to either a block of classes or drop in. There will be ten weeks of classes running from Tuesday 17 April till Tuesday 26 June. There will be a break in the term with no class running on Tuesday 1st May.
To book

Visual Arts Scotland Annual Open Exhibition 2012

Dear Friends, art lovers, supporters and students,

I am pleased to let you know my Chinese brush painting artwork been selected for (VAS) Visual Arts Scotland Annual Open Exhibition 2012. I would like to invite you to attend the opening of the exhibition on Sat 4th February. You are welcome to bring your friends or pass this information around. I will be in the gallery all day from 10 to 5 and will be glad to see all of you there. Exhibition is FREE and run from Sat 4th February – Thurs 1st March RSA Upper Galleries, The Mound, Edinburgh.