Bamboo Demonstration

See below for demonstration of Bamboo in Chinese brush painting by Chi Zhang.

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.

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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.

Video Lecture

See below for a short introduction to calligraphy from Chi Zhang the Institute’s tutor.

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

Weekend Chinese calligraphy workshop - Leith School of Art

A weekend designed to introduce students to Chinese art. Beginning with a talk about the history of Chinese calligraphy, students will be shown the basic techniques of controlling the brush to draw single lines and simple characters. At the end of the first day, students will be shown how to make a traditional Chinese seal or stamp. On the second day of the workshop, students will learn about Chinese brush painting – an ink and wash technique. They will use this to create finished pieces working from a variety of subjects.

Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th May

To book