I started to learn Chinese Gongbi painting in June, 2004. Quickly, I was bore for I felt it had too trouble and too many rules. I was more interested in Gouache and I refused to learn it in my art lessons again. :-)

Until August or September, 2005, I could not deal with many details and my colors of flowers on the gouache pictures seemed too dry, my teacher asked me to learn Chinese Gongbi once more and he told me that is the best way to train a person to paint something carefully and to master the wet degree of colors, So, I tried to learn it with a very unwilling feelings. However, when my first Chinese Gongbi was completed, I did feel so good and I really enjoyed its colors and special style, I started to be interested in it. So, since that time, except Chinese Xieyi, I have been painting on my Chinese Gongbi and I am getting interested in it more and more. :-)

Another name of Chinese Gongbi is Traditional Chinese Realistic Painting, it requires the artist to express the things that we are painting with a very detail and realistic style. It asks us to make a draft by pencil carefully, then to color it at least 9 times. Usually, it needs a long time to work with a very elaborate way. I had spent on one of my Chinese gongbi – The Sound of the Flute for more than 100 hours in the Spring Festival Holiday in 2006. After I completed it and went down the stairs, my car did not work for the battery had gone.   So, we have to pay more attention to the feature itself and the skills.

To be honest, I did not feel that I can start a Chinese Gongbi easily for it is really a too hard work. Every time, after I complete one, I do feel that I have been burnt out too much, I can not recover quickly. Anyway, as soon as I start, I want to complete it and I enjoy the process of the learning and creating, I often forget my time. :-)

Anyway, Chinese Gongbi pays more attention to lines, details and the artistic conception. So it is really a good way to train a person's volition and tolerance. :-)

I am just a part time student, most of time, I teach myself, so, I do hope to get your support, direction and support. If you have any questions, comments and suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn or shirleyz004@yahoo.com, or publish your opinions in Forum For Friends. You are welcomed.

--Shirley
Tus. Feb, 21, 2006