Lovely Gong bi or outline style plum painting from Fundamentals of Chinese Floral Painting: Volume 1 Plum by Su-sing Chow.
This is one of our most popular books not written by Ning Yeh. Its iconic subject matter, varied instruction and accessible style are a wonderful combination.
The four subjects that are considered the foundation of Chinese Brush Painting are Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum. Also called the Four Gentlemen, they are a training ground for the strokes and fundamental techniques used in all other subjects.
Plum is the Gentleman of winter. It's tendency to bloom during the harsh cold of winter has made it a symbol of perseverance in Chinese culture.
