Mar 4, 2018

59cm x 138cm( 23.22inches x 54.33inches)

This is my my 1330th painting since 2003,the 773rdChinese Xieyi Painting, my 613rd Assignment (the 201st Painting as an candidate of Degree of Master of Fine Arts ) in Chinese National Academy of Arts.

I created this painting after my supervisor -- Professor Mu Jiashan didn't approve my application for not taking part in an even of the team which may be an art exhibition or something else in the second semester of the 2017 class year (Sep, 2017 to July, 2018).

I wrote to him for I didn't want to take part in the event for I would like to have a travel and I didn't think that my Chinese mountain and water painting (landscape) with pure Chinese ink, especially dry ink has not met the level to take part in an art exhibition yet. However, he called me back at once and told me two points:

1. He is confident with me and I should be able to do the created job;
2. This is my assignment, no matter there is an art exhibition or not;

Then he told me how and where to start.

With a little bit disappointed but more appreciated heart, as soon as I put down the cell phone, I bought all of the books relates to Chinese Dry Ink Painting by my supervisor or about his dry ink painting works (I didn't do it before for I thought I was a candidate for my master degree of fine arts on Chinese painting theory, instead of practice, I mean painting itself, my supervisor asked me to improve on both of them) and try to do my best to learn as much as possible on the Chinese ink landscape.

Do you know why?

Since Tang Dynasty (618-907), Chinese people started to admire the painting with the Chinese ink and water, until Ming Dynasty (1368－1644),Chinese ink painting became the highest level one among Chinese paintings.

Since there, usually, Chinese have been thinking that the Chinese mountain and water painting (landscape) is the No. 1 among Chinese paintings; the Chinese Ink Landscape is the No.1 of Chinese landscape paintings. Therefore, to learn to paint a Chinese mountain and water painting / landscape with only Chinese ink, is the most difficult thing, for it is a Literati painting.

So, my supervisor refused my application to retreat and wanted to teach me, is really my luck. With an appreciated heart, I would really like to catch the god-given opportunity to do my best.

Therefore, when I worked on the painting, I am try to add my understanding about Chinese culture and the Chinese intellectual's feelings.

How do you think of this painting? Do you enjoy it?


If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, welcome to write to shirley@ebridge.cn,you can also publish your opinions on Message Board . :-)

--Shirley Yiping Zhang
March 4, 2018