OAS is...Sliding Into Spring
Download the PDF VersionIn this Issue:
Tips & Secrets for Joyful Painting Practice
Spring, Spring, Spring! 100 Flowers and 108 Flowers Books
The Gateway to Flower Painting
Restocked Pre-Mounted Papers and NEW Pre-Mounted Papers
Three NEW Combination Brushes
Tea Colored Dragon Cloud Paper
Everyday Xuan
Gold Dusted Peach Xuan
Tips & Secrets for Joyful Painting Practice
by Evan YehA Secret You May Not Be Aware Of
Orchid Painting from M002: Book of the Orchid by Su-Sing Chow
There is a part of you that experiences seamless union with everything else in the Universe. You have access to every master that has ever (or will ever) exist and can benefit from a connection to infinite intelligence. All you have to do is learn how to quiet your mind and focus your thoughts in a positive direction to reconnect with this larger part of you.
What is Practice?
Practice is an act of focusing your mind on a particular activity, opening up yourself to an inexhaustible stream of energy and wisdom related to that particular activity. A western mindset is too often focused on action. We prioritize the physical act of practice and often "grit our teeth" or "grind out" a practice session. With the advent of social media, people will even brag about going "back to the grind," as they practice an activity of their choice.
Our attitude is of primary importance. We don't want to associate an activity that we love (like painting) with an attitude of joyless, or even frustrated, effort. The goal practice is to establish a momentum of joy and confidence. When we focus with an attitude of joy, we reconnect with infinite intelligence and receive a flow of inspiration and energy. When we focus on a subject with resistance, we block this inspiration and begin to spend our own limited energy in an unsustainable manner.
Practical Tips for Joyful Practice
- When you practice, establish a tone of enjoyment. Paint very simply and generally to warm up. Work with magic paper or ink and practice paper. Appreciate the feeling of the brush strokes against the surface of the paper.
- Notice and appreciate the strokes that you produce that are pleasing to you. Even go as far as to speak a compliment out loud to yourself or allow yourself to make a joyful sound when you do something pleasing.
- Avoid a critical mindset while you are painting. Make the goal to experience joy and freedom. There is always time to evaluate and make adjustments after practice is finished.
- Set up a space for painting and practice that is enjoyable and well equipped. Create a feeling of openness and flow in the space. Make sure it is bright with a source of natural light.
- When you evaluate what you produce in practice, think in terms of cause and effect rather than good or bad.
- Once you have warmed up and establish a good flow, practice complete compositions and encourage yourself to finish every painting, even if unexpected things occur. Flowing in the direction of the unexpected is a valuable mastery trait and a skill that should be developed through practice.
Special Tip from Ning Yeh
In a recent interview, Ning shared that he never approaches painting with the mindset of practicing. He is always just painting and approaches each painting with the expectancy that a masterpiece could be created. It doesn't always happen, but it is exciting that each opportunity to paint carries that potential!
Spring! Spring! Spring!
100 Flowers by O-shi Yang
This book is filled with large, beautiful imagery and step-by-step instructions in both Chinese and English. Yang provides anatomical diagrams, foundation drawings, and many completed compositions for the growing artist to emulate.
235 pages, Chinese/English
BK07: 100 Flowers by O-shi Yang $35
108 Flowers by Ning Yeh (Four Volume Series)
Ning Yeh takes your hand and walks with you through the process of painting 108 Flowers (each book contains 27 compositions) in a fun and playful way. Instructions are completely in English.
Each Book 142 pages approx. Text in English
BKNY01-04: (Books 1- 4) $96 $119.80
The Gateway to Chinese Flower Painting
Are you intimidated by Chinese flower painting? Many people struggle to paint flowers in Chinese brush painting due to the lack of comprehensive (and English) learning materials. Prolific artists often publish books that have minimal instruction and they expect you to have some knowledge of flower painting already. What do you do if you have never painted flowers before?
Ning Yeh's Gold Edition Instructional Guide is the gateway into Chinese flower painting with his incredibly detailed visual and written instructions, his "boo-boo" pad, stroke order, color loading, and more. He provides the solid base for you to then springboard into books with more subjects but fewer instructions. In this book, he thoroughly covers the petals, leaves, branches, and full compositions of Camellia, Amaryllis, and Peony in this book
Chinese Brush Painting: An Instructional Guide - Gold Edition
“The update is now double the original. I have expanded the content with new information. I have not only redone the paintings and updated the materials, I have also added many new artworks. It is as relevant today as its original writing.” - Ning Yeh
212 Pages, English
BK01G: An Instructional Guide $35
BK01G-A: An Instructional Guide - Autographed $45
Pre-Mounted Papers
Traditional Chinese paintings undergo a wet mounting process which can often be overwhelming for beginner brush painters.
Our Pre-Mounted Papers offer the look of a traditionally finished painting. Once your painting is dry, you can immediately show, frame, gift, or sell your finished paintings.
Three New Brushes
Dewdrop Brush
Tip Dimensions: 3/4" x 1/4"
Papers That Transport You to a Different Dynasty
Tea Colored Dragon Cloud
First, we have a new Tea Colored Dragon Cloud Paper which captures the quality of our Dragon Cloud Paper, while giving your painting the warm, antique look of being from a past dynasty.
P53H: 5 Full Sheets (55" x 27" approximately) $23
Everyday Xuan
Next, is our Everyday Xuan Paper. This paper is a velvety smooth raw xuan paper that is thicker than most single xuans and allows you to paint beautiful flowers, birds, animals, and calligraphy.
P09: 10 Full Sheets (54½" x 27½") $25 $32
P09R: Continuous Roll (27½" x 164 feet) $100
Gold Dusted Peach Xuan
Finally, we have an elegant peach xuan paper with a subtle gold dusting. It paints similarly to other single xuan papers and is considered absorbant even though it has a shimmer sprayed on it.
P04G-903DA-9: 9 Cut Sheets (27"x18") $25
P04G-903D: 5 Full Sheets (27"x54") $25