| Title: Chinese Xieyi--061(Flower & Bird): What Does Peach Blossom Symbolize? |
| Artist: Shirley Zhang |
| Size: 66cm x 45cm |
| Completed Time: Wed, Jan 11, 2006 |
Remarks:
This is my 61st Chinese Xie Yi -- Freehand Brushworks that I painted in my art lesson and also this is the first time I learned to paint peach blossom with a brusher directly. Do you know that in Chinese cultures, except the 4 gentlemen of flowers -- plum blossom, orchid, chrysanthemum and bamboo, we also think that peony is the symbolization of lucky and rich, lily is the symbolization of harmony, red rose is the keepsake of love, peach blossom is the sign of young girl and also means love in some occasion, so, in some places, people hold peach blossom festival as China¨s Saint Valentine's Day. That is why, I can not give it a very clear definition yet. Anyway, it sounds like some indistinct love in some ancient literature works as well.
When I was painting the flowers, I could not help to recall the beautiful view in my 3rd hometown -- Wuxi City. Every spring, the first flowers are plum blossom, then are cherry blossom, then are peach blossom, then, all of the flowers... every morning, I had a running in the campus by the Tai Lake that was full of sweet flower smell in the golden sunshine, then to read or recite some classical poems or ancient essays in an arbor over the water in a garden to prepare my class for my students who were much older than I. : -) Maybe just for the beautiful and clean remember in my mind and gave me some inspiration to cerate my flowers, so that my teacher felt quite surprised and very satisfied for my first painting of peach blossom.
Also, my teacher told me that the way to paint a peach blossom and a plum blossom is basically same, if I give them leaves, they are peach blossom. Otherwise, they are plum blossom. It is fun, right?
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