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Producing Pieces for the Challenge
Lessons Learned from the 100 Sheet Challenge
We understand that the prospect of producing works for submission can seem intimidating. If you are feeling overwhelmed, let us share some tips that we learned from a previous contest.
In the year 2007, the OAS Family sponsored the 100 Sheet Challenge. The idea was to buy 100 sheets of paper and dedicate oneself to producing as many finished compositions as possible with the entire 100 Sheets of paper. Those who successfully completed this process discovered two invaluable lessons:
- Focusing on a single subject allowed them to more fully discover its essence, approaching it with greater confidence every time they painted it.
- Focusing on completing compositions helped them to develop a key skill that all master artists possess – the ability to adapt to unexpected results on the paper and to follow each one in a new direction to produce a masterpiece. This is a very important part of brush painting. Think, "there are no mistakes, only happy accidents." When you paint, your job is not to judge things, but to spontaneously adapt to what you see happening on the paper, even when what happens is unexpected.
- Thinking about going through 100 Sheets of paper, rather than trying to produce a masterpiece, took the pressure off. Thinking that they had so many chances helped them paint more freely, with more spontaneity. By the time they completed the 100 Sheets of paper, a number of paintings qualified as "masterpieces."
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Gearing Up for the Challenge
Nothing can influence your painting productivity as much as creating a spot for you to paint that is always set up.
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Ultimate Artist Set
SETUA: $188 $246.45
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Chinese Brush Painting Basics Set
SETDV601: $50 $84.25
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We leaked the idea of the challenge on Facebook and people are already responding with their subject choices. There are some who are focusing on classic subjects like orchid or bamboo, others are choosing floral subjects, and still others are doing landscape. |
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One great part of the OAS Life Workshop was that participants were given access to an unlimited amount of paper. Having an abundance of paper releases your creativity.
Here are a few different ways to buy 100 Sheets of paper based on your commitment level. Remember to adjust your paper choices according to your subject choice. Double Shuen works for most subjects but you may want to choose Ma or Pi paper for wet on wet landscape painting, Single Shuen for calligraphy, or Shimmer paper for fineline. |
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Fully Committed
100 Full Sheets of Double Shuen (27" x 54")
P25P: $135.00
Each one of these full size sheets can be cut into three 18"x27" sheets. That is 300 hundred fairly large pieces of paper. If you want to work smaller, you can cut them further and have even more paper for smaller compositions. Those who completed the 100 Sheet Challenge at this level of commitment experienced leaps and bounds of artistic development.
Committed
P25A 12 Cut Sheets of Double Shuen (18" x 27")
9 Packages for $76.50 (108 sheets total)
100 of these 18"x27" cut sheets will provide you with a very fertile ground for artistic expression. If you want to work smaller you can cut them in half for 200 13.5"x18" sheets, a nice middle ground option.
Easy Commitment
P03BL 48 Sheets of Handmade Practice Shuen (18"x13.25")
3 Packages for $45.00 (144 sheets total)
An easy option for those who need to dip their feet in before they swim. These are pre-cut, already flattened sheets that are ready for painting. |
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Quality brushes make painting a pleasure. If finances are tight, there are other ways to cut back. You can buy one quality brush instead of a number of mediocre brushes. Our best quality brushes are designed to give even a beginner the feeling of being a master artist. |
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Sampling OAS Best Quality Brushes (from top to bottom):
Orchid Bamboo Brush: H2C $19
Flow Brush: C2C $17
Mountain House Medium: H2G $15
BIFF 1 Brush: C4C $10
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In response to popular demand, we are offering previous gift lessons for sale. |
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OAS Life Workshop
by Evan Yeh
I was very pleased to be able to participate in the entire OAS Life Workshop as a host, instructor and student. There were many highlights that I am excited to share with those of you who could not be there. In so many ways this workshop is an intimate representation of who we are as a family. It is us inviting people into our lives and sharing with them the joy that we experience in the jewels of Chinese culture.
Each part of the workshop was special in its own way for me. I enjoyed watching my mother kick the event off with her calligraphy class. She gave a unique calligraphy class that was grounded in tradition but wonderfully flexible and accessible at the same time. Everyone produced wonderful writing and developed deeper understandings of the Chinese ideas of love, fortune, and harmony.
 Lingchi prepares garlic chive potstickers as an appetizer My mother's endurance was on display as she took everyone to one of our favorite Chinese lunch spots and followed it up with a tour of our local Chinese market. I never realized how much I took for granted having access to such a large Chinese market. The diversity of produce and prepared foods is a special benefit of living in the area that we live.
We then went back to our house, had some wine and got a preview screening of my father's brand new Dream Journey DVD. If one were to tell the story of my father’s life, I think that this past decade was his development into a filmmaker. My father has many gifts, but his storytelling is one that I appreciate deeply. His ability to weave Chinese history, stories, and legends into everything that he presents makes experiences with him one of a kind. You can see China with many different people and in many different ways, but my father's China is a deliciously full, life-changing travel experience and other than going with him on the Dream Journey, the DVDs are the best ways to see China through his eyes.
 Ning offers a toast as we enjoy a seven course feast courtesy of Lingchi After the DVD screening, my mother began her cooking demonstration. My mother is the best person I have ever seen at preparing large amounts of delicious, healthy, food in miraculously short periods of time. Her food is soul gratifying, authentic Chinese food - fresh, tasty, and mindful of the waistline. After a full day of hosting and teaching, here she was explaining all the details of how she was preparing this seven course feast, serving appetizers, and answering questions with a smile. We sat down for an amazing feast accented with wine and delightful conversation. As the night was coming to a close, I considered how much we had experienced in just the first day. OAS Life indeed!
For a complete breakdown of the entire OAS Life Workshop, visit brushpainting.com/blog
The next OAS Life Workshop is scheduled for January 12-16, 2011.
5 days of immersion into a life made richer through Chinese art, culture, food, and philosophy.
Call 800-969-4471 to reserve one of the limited spots.
DAY 1: Chinese Calligraphy; Luncheon; Market Tour; Cooking Demonstration; Hosted Dinner
DAY 2: Brush Painting with Ning Yeh; Hosted Dinner (restaurant)
DAY 3: Brush Painting with Ning Yeh
DAY 4: Fineline Painting; Rhythm Workshop
DAY 5: Mounting Workshop; Screen Videos
$950.00 for all five days
$450.00 for painting workshops with just Ning (Day 2 & 3)
$200.00 non refundable deposit is necessary to reserve a space.
$50/day bedroom inside Jashin's home, only 2 rooms available, first come first serve.
Full payment due 12/3/10 | No refunds or cancellations after 12/3/10
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Dream Journey 2011
Chengdu - Zhangjajie - Guilin (May 20th - June 2nd)
 Dream Journey tour member Angela takes a picture holding a Giant Panda This is a spectacularly scenic tour that included numerous sights rarely combined in one trip. The itinerary is a bit more leisurely than previous trips and we are looking forward to having quality time in each spot.
We will again visit our newfound beauty Zhangjajie. We will take the elevator up to enjoy the mountains; take the cable car down to discover her hidden peaks; take the boat cruise on her lake and walk through her forest and stream. We will visit her museum and spend time to explore her little towns and villages. These villages are an artist's dream. Every corner is picturesque. They say that Zhangjajie combines the best of Yellow Mountain and Guilin in one location.
 Feng Huang Cheng (Phoenix Town) on the banks of Tuojiang River (Photo by Lawrence Kwan) Chengdu is home to a world class Panda Breeding and Research facility. Here tour members can view the captivating behavior of Pandas and even get their picture taken holding a panda. Highlights of this part of the trip include a stop at Emei Mountain - one of the five holy mountains in China and a jewel of the Sichuan province. We will also watch the famous "face changing" opera.
Nowhere on earth, is the perfect union of land and water more evident than that of the Li River in Guilin. The reflection of Guilin's mountains off the serene Li River make Guilin one of China's most memorable locales. Yangshuo is the little sister of Guilin where the Li River cruise ends. Guilin may have grown out of its hidden charm, but Yangshu has not been touched by modernization. Its beauty is stunning. I now believe the saying: "Guilin's scenery is unmatched in this world, but Yangshu is better than Guilin."
We are still flying high with memories of the last Dream Journey and the warm faces and open hearts of our travel companions.
Will you join us for another adventure?
Call 800-969-4471 for details and pricing.
 Dream Journey 2010 DVD DVDCT10: $25
The first of the Dream Journey DVDs to be filmed in High Definition Video, China's exotic beauty and grace jump off the screen like never before.
The Dream Journey DVDs in general, and this one in particular, are wonderful sources of inspiration for a variety of subjects, especially landscapes.
Ning's wonderful narration envelopes stunning footage of Yellow Mountain, Zhangjajie and much more.
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Beijing Painting Study Trip
May 14th - May 21st, 2011
 Calligraphy demonstration at Central Art University in Beijing. Those who went on Dream Journey 2010 were particularly impacted by their visit to Central Art University in Beijing. There was a wonderful culture exchange between the students and professors there and our tour members.
Inspired by this, we are planning a week long Study Trip hosted by the faculty of the most prestigious art university in all of China. We will be learning spontaneous style (hsieh-i), fineline (gong-bi), and calligraphy and will balance intensive study with casual time for practice and visits to galleries and museums in Beijing.
First time opportunity to study with the faculty of Central Art University in Beijing!
Call 800-969-4471 for details and pricing.
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Gift Lesson - The Butterfly
Free with purchase of $25 or more ($6.95 purchased separately)
The Butterfly Gift Lesson GLS011 FREE with $25 purchase or $6.95 purchased separately
Summer is upon us and I am reminded of the story of The Butterfly Lovers. It is the story of Zhu Ying Tai, the beautiful, intelligent, only daughter of a large noble family in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Defying tradition that prohibits women in academic study, she disguises herself as a man and travels to Hangzhou to attend studies. Here she meets a young scholar named Liang Shanbo. The two immediately feel a connection, take an oath of fraternity, and at school, share a small room with a single bed.
Their relationship continues to deepen and Zhu Ying Tai falls in love. Liang Shanbo is too focused on his studies to notice the obvious feminine traits of his roommate. A letter from her father forces Zhu Ying Tai to abandon her studies and return home. Liang Shanbo accompanies his "sworn brother" for 17 miles and along the way Zhu Ying Tai hints that she is actually a woman. Liang Shanbo is still unaware and as they part Zhu Ying Tai decides that she will reveal herself as her own "sister" and tells Liang Shanbo that she will play matchmaker for him and her "sister."
Later Liang Shanbo discovers that Zhu Ying Tai is actually a woman. They embrace and passionately vow that they will be together for eternity. Unfortunately their joy is shattered by the news that Zhu Ying Tai's family has already arranged for her to marry another. Torn apart by fate, Liang Shanbo descends into a depression and, heartbroken, becomes ill and dies in office as a county magistrate. His grave site is on the route of Zhu Ying Tai's wedding procession and as they travel by, whirlwinds prevent them from passing. Zhu Ying Tai falls on Liang Shanbo's grave demanding that the grave open up. Miraculously, with a loud thunder, the grave opens up and Zhu Ying Tai dives in. Their spirits are released as two beautiful butterflies and they spend eternity together. Even today when we see two butterflies dancing in the summer wind, we think of Zhu Ying Tai and Liang Shanbo - The Butterfly Lovers.
As a celebration of summer and in the spirit of the Butterfly Lovers, we offer this wonderful gift lesson providing instruction on beautiful butterflies in both the spontaneous and fineline styles.
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