Take a walk in the country with Zhang Shipei

Ink painting is a traditional form of Chinese art that uses brushes, water, ink and paper to present a variety of subjects, such as landscapes, human figures, birds and flowers. Simply combining ink and water in different proportions already produces lively variations. Although Zhang Shipei uses only a few colours such as black, green and red in this painting, the different ink tones give objects different textures. For example, the animals is painted with a dry brush for a dry, rough effect. In contrast, the path and lotus leaves are painted with a wet brush to make them appear damp and hazy.

1. How many buffaloes are there in the painting?

2. How many lotus flowers are there in the painting?

3. How many people are there in the painting?

4. How does this painting illustrate rain?

5. What colour of effect is used to show water?

Try these two ink and water experiments to see how they change to give different expressions.

Left: Paint with water on paper, apply a drop of ink using a brush to one point of the water and observe how the ink move along the water.

Right: Paint with ink on the paper and sprinkle salt before the ink dries. What effect will appear after the salt melted?

Answers of Look and Find:

1. 4
2. 7
3. 7
4. Umbrellas and bamboo hats, ink and rendering
5. Blank space and reflection of water