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Anjellyjoy — Crane and Plum Blossoms
Published: 2009-10-05 05:22:11 +0000 UTC; Views: 6885; Favourites: 146; Downloads: 0
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Description
This is a ~100-Themes-Challenge deviation.Theme: 20. Fortitude
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In the Chinese culture, plum blossoms symbolize fortitude, long life and good health.
This was also my second reproduction for a school V.A. assignment. The original is by Francisca Ting from her book "Chinese Painting". It's a really lovely book. I haven't looked at Chinese art for so long.
The original was also painted in traditional Chinese inks. I used to have a set of those but I never touched them so I opted instead to give them to my art teacher who loved Chinese art. To be honest, even if I still had them, I probably still would have reproduced the painting using watercolours. I just find it a lot easier.
Critique would be dearly loved.
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Reference: Original Painting, "Crane and Plum Blossoms" by Francisca Ting
Watercolour on watercolour paper
29.7 x 21.0cm
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Comments: 58
Thank you very much!
Haha actually, Chinese calligraphy is one of my hobbies, since I've lived in China for half my life. My father's a calligrapher and is very good at art, though for me it's more of a hobby because I enjoy it but am not naturally born with incredible talents.
I believe this painting was originally done in ink and seeing as I didn't have the resources on me, I made do with watercolours and normal watercolour brushes. I think part of what made it difficult was also the amount of water the two different brushes are able to hold. Since watercolour brushes tend to be smaller and watercolour paints not as thick as ink, longer bits got a bit faded at the end and gradually got more difficult to paint. You are definitely right, if I ever try something like this again, I will try a calligraphy brush. I cheated on some of the leaves by 'outling and filling in', the conventional watercolour technique instead of painting it in one stroke.
I am a lot more practised with watercolours than I am with inks. But I agree that brushstroke control can make all the difference sometimes with painting.
Thank you very very much for your critique! I appreciate all the tips you've given me.
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This is absolutely gorgeous. Holy smokes. How would one go about getting a print of it? I'd love to frame it for my bedroom. <3
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This is absolutely gorgeous. Holy smokes. How would one go about getting a print of it? I'd love to frame it for my bedroom. <3
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It's so beautiful... I have no words!! 
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sure thing! oh, so you moved to sydney to spend the other half of your life :d (badly worded, that sentence...) wow, your father's a calligrapher! that's amazing~~ i bet you learn some great skills from him! i'm definitely not talented in that area either XD calligraphy is such an art~ it's also about you know, letting your soul be encompassed by nature, and the lot, before you can master it. well, that's how it went way back in chinese art history, i guess?
hmm yeah! choosing the right medium and brushes is definitely important~ i must invest in some better brushes myself <: I mainly do oil painting and my brushes die pretty quickly. I have no knack for the slow, deliberate painting styles like watercolours and things. well, practice makes perfect!
you're very welcome~~ great work! (bah, i can't even send the comment on the critique itself any more. how silly.)
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Nicely done. I like the bird, but I just love how you drew the plants and blossom.
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That is amazing! Chinese art always did have its own certain appeal.
And even with watercolour it gives credit alongside the original.
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I just love watercolors. And I love what you have managed to do with them. Especially the stork. Its so majestic.
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Thank you for your lovely comment and for being so sweet. I'm very glad you've enjoyed my work.
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Oh wow, this is amazing! Everything looks so proper, especially the leaves and the super graceful crane. Even the chinese characters in the corner are nicely written.
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Thank you very much for the lovely comment.
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I love how all the colours have so many different shades. It gives the picture such a gentle feeling.
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts, I really appreciate it.
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Thank you, you didn't really need to say too much.
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This reminds me of a picture that used to be in my grandma's room from her old house. It was a lovely painting, but I think it was made of threads instead of paint. 
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Thank you, you are very kind. I do love traditional Asian style paintings... despite the fact that they lack vibrance, something I'm also particular to.
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I would write a critique, but I can't think of that much to say plus I think the star system would look too harsh as this is a reproduction of a painting.
So here's oldskoolnonsubscriberstyle critique (:
The technique is really good! Looks great, especially on the crane and thedark leaves. But the bark looks unnatural, I think, as well as the green leaves at the top. I think more shading on the bark and a rougher texture could look better?
I haven't seen the original, though, so I'm not sure.
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Hmm, the leaves pretty much looked liked that, only slightly darker. And yup, like I said to ~xEmoMuffinx , I didn't have all that much time to finish this painting so I kind of sped the process up in the end by doing the branch only roughly. It definitely could have done with more shading.
But I think actually the main problem was me using watercolours. I don't think anyone could reproduce an ink painting with watercolours and have it give the exact same type of effect. With the original, the ink around the edges of the trunk had this really corroded texture to it wheras in the reproduction it's almost completely smooth and 'outline' style. 
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the crane is lovely, but i think the branch looks a bit un-branchy and the leaves might have looked better if they were headed to a different direction. otherwise this piece is great!
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Hehe yeah... I should mention the branch in the artist's comments.
And are you refering to the black leaves or the leaves at the top? The original is kind of like this for the black leaves, except I left some of the small ones out because I was lazy. Haha.
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i meant the green ones at the top.
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I'll try and keep that in mind next time I paint leaves.
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The way you've captured the Chinese style in this is amazing. I like the colours you've used and the stroking too... although I feel the bird could do with a tiny bit more... definition, in a sense.
It's a lovely piece though.
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Hmm, I've never really thought about the crane that much. But I think you're right, it does blend into the background too much. A little bit more definition would have worked. Thank you for the advice.
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You've done a brilliant job here. If the colours and shapes aren't enough to make this a masterpiece, then the authentic Chinese feel to it (even real Chinese characters!) certainly do.
Awesome.
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