How To: Paint a magnolia in Chinese painting

How to Paint a magnolia in Chinese painting

This video demonstrates how to paint a magnolia in ink and water, Chinese style. Make gray ink by mixing water with the black ink. Squeeze the brush with a piece of tissue and dip it in glue water made of peach sap powder mixed with water. When he begins to paint, half the brushstroke is gray and half is clear water. In this way you can use the brush to get darker and lighter shades of gray to make the magnolia flower shape that appears to be shaded. He then uses a stiff brush and black ink to make details at the base of the flowers and add branches, then signs and dates the painting with Chinese characters. Following the directions in this video, you can learn to paint with ink in the traditional Chinese way.