The Bottom Line
Don't think this book will have you painting masterful Chinese-style landscapes in an afternoon even though it says "made easy" in the title. Chinese painting is deceptively simple, so while this book does introduce the subject in an easy-to-understand and logical way, this doesn't mean it's easy to emulate. You'll need quite a bit of practice before it'll be "easy", but if you take your time and work your way through the exercises and examples, you ought to get there (and have a lot of fun doing so).
Pros
- A straightforward and easy-to-understand introduction to Chinese landscape painting.
- Starts right at the beginning and builds up skills and techniques systematically.
- Includes more advanced brushwork or approaches, not just basic.
Cons
- Learning a new style of painting isn't ever "easy", but this book explains it well.
- Demonstrations don't have step-by-step photos, just explanations and the finished painting.
Description
- Written by artist / teacher Rebecca Yue, who studied traditional Chinese painting / calligraphy and uses it in a modern way.
- Paperback book, 176 pages. Published by Watson-Guptill. ISBN 978-0-8230-0606-9.
- Divided into five sections: Materials and Equipment, Techniques, Landscape Features, Moods and Seasons, Gallery.
Guide Review - Chinese Landscapes Made Easy by Rebecca Yue
If Chinese landscape painting is a style that appeals but you've no idea how to approach it, this book is for you. Rebecca Yue's finished paintings in the book will inspire and motivate you, while her clear and systematic explanations will enable you to learn the techniques involved.
The book starts right at the beginning, with an overview of Chinese landscape painting and an introduction to the equipment you need. It explains how to use a brush for this style of painting, and introduces the painting techniques. Then it systematically takes various features of a landscape, such as trees, rocks, mountains, and introduces the brushstrokes for painting these.
"Easy to understand" is not the same as "easy to do", so don't get frustrated if you aren't reproducing the equivalent of the beautiful examples immediately. Take the time to master the basics, which are explained in a very straightforward way and build up skill and technique bit by bit.
For instance, it won't take you very long to read the two pages on how to hold a brush to paint in various directions. But if you only do one version of the exercise, you'll be short-changing yourself. Do it multiple times before turning the page, checking with the illustrations that you are holding the brush as recommended.
The demonstrations only have step-by-step instructions not photos. But then you've just learned to paint the elements that go into that type of landscape, so it's challenging you to apply what you've learned, not merely copy. It won't be easy to replicate the finished paintings, but with this book you will have the techniques to try.
The book starts right at the beginning, with an overview of Chinese landscape painting and an introduction to the equipment you need. It explains how to use a brush for this style of painting, and introduces the painting techniques. Then it systematically takes various features of a landscape, such as trees, rocks, mountains, and introduces the brushstrokes for painting these.
"Easy to understand" is not the same as "easy to do", so don't get frustrated if you aren't reproducing the equivalent of the beautiful examples immediately. Take the time to master the basics, which are explained in a very straightforward way and build up skill and technique bit by bit.
For instance, it won't take you very long to read the two pages on how to hold a brush to paint in various directions. But if you only do one version of the exercise, you'll be short-changing yourself. Do it multiple times before turning the page, checking with the illustrations that you are holding the brush as recommended.
The demonstrations only have step-by-step instructions not photos. But then you've just learned to paint the elements that go into that type of landscape, so it's challenging you to apply what you've learned, not merely copy. It won't be easy to replicate the finished paintings, but with this book you will have the techniques to try.
