My Traditional Chinese Ink (Xieyi) Paintings

Chinese ink painting has two meanings. One refers to the traditional Chinese painting; the other refers to the painting which is painted with only water and Chinese ink. Now, I am talking the latter.

In Chinese painting field, there is a view: mountain and water painting /landscape is No.1 of Chinese paintings and Chinese ink mountaint and water painting is the No.1 of it. Maybe it is not accurate 100%, it has showed us that Chinese ink painting has a very high position among Chinese paintings.

When we paint a Chinese ink painting, we have just white (paper) and black (ink) two colors. So, mainly we mix water to with Chinese ink and to create some different degrees of black and to create different art result on the paper that is permeable. We call this kind of artistic result “ Moyun ”– charm of the Chinese ink.

With the help of water, Chinese ink can produce many different color’s gradations. Usually, we name them “ thick ink ”, “ light ink” , “ dry ink” , “ wet ink ” and “ coke ink”   and so on. With these changes and degree of the ink,   on the Shengxuan Paper (rice paper which is permeable) to create a special art result.

So, Chinese ink painting is one of the traditional Chinese painting which mainly works with the aid of water and Chinese ink.

In technique, most of Chinese ink paintings are Xiyi painting.

In Chinese history, most of the literati paintings are Chinese ink paintings.   

I have not painted many Chinese ink paintings yet, therefore, I would just show few of my assignments with you and hope to bring a different feeling to you.

Sincerely
Shirley Yiping Zhang
Dec 3, 2017
Nov 14， 2016
Shirley@ebridge.cn
www.ebridge.cn