Learn how to paint traditional Chinese flowers

Mr Cai Weimin


7 Sep - 19 Oct

Where:
OPEN Ealing Arts Centre W5 2TD

Course: Full £290 : Ret £250 : Conc £210 (pay as you go available)

Class details

Learn how to paint flowers using traditional Chinese freehand painting techniques.

During the eight week course you learn how to use and control Chinese brushes and the basic methods of Chinese painting. You’ll study and learn to paint the flowers known as “Four Gentlemen” and topics including their foliage and perhaps a bird or two.

Wednesdays

10.30am – 12.30pm

7 September – 26 October

Course Fee: Full £250 : Retired £210 : Concession £180

Weekly Pay As You Go Fee: Full £35 : Retired £30: Concession £25

Limited to 8 artists.

Join Chinese master, William Cai and learn how to control Chinese brushes and some of the basic techniques of Chinese freehand flower painting. Throughout the ten week course you

  • work to improve your control of and ability with the unique Chinese brushes
  • learn more of the basic skills and simple techniques
  • learn how to apply those techniques
  • become confident in using Chinese watercolour paints

By the end of the course you will have gradually moved onto some of the more difficult techniques and be able to combine them into a complete flower and bird painting.

Tools required for Chinese Painting

To learn Chinese painting you will need a few specialist tools. William will bring the brushes, inks and extra paper for you to buy and we shall provide paper, pallet and a felt mat. You can also explore the delights of this specialist Chinese supplier, Oriental Arts in Brighton. If you want to gather your own materials, you’ll need

  • an assortment of soft and stiff brushes of different sizes
  • ink for Chinese painting
  • a box of Chinese colours
  • Chinese rice paper
  • a small felt mat for Chinese painting : 70 x 50cm
  • a small water cup
  • a saucer for colour
  • a small plate/pallet for colour mixing

Materials

We provide

  • 10 sheets of rice paper per student. Each sheet measures 138 x 68 cm
  • Palettes for mixing
  • Water jars
  • Mats
  • Refreshments

You can buy materials from William

  • Chinese ink : £1 for a small bottle
  • Chinese colour; 12 colours in a box :  The large size pans costs £8/box and The half pans cost £4/box.
  • Chinese brushes, different sizes priced from £3 to £15 each

Please bring an apron

Booking

Course Details

Where:
OPEN Ealing Arts Centre W5 2TD

Dates: 7 Sep - 19 Oct
Wednesday 10:30 am
Fees: Course: Full £290 : Ret £250 : Conc £210 (pay as you go available)

About the tutor


Mr Cai Weimin

William Cai (aka Yamin) is an experienced Chinese Arts teacher who believes that doing Chinese painting and calligraphy can make people happy. “In the process of painting, you can cultivate your body and mind”.

His work experience as a Chinese Brush Painting and Calligraphy Teacher includes four years at the V&A Museum and over 20 years at Missenden Fine Arts School. He also teaches at a variety of institutions such as the National Gallery and Princes Foundation Art School and community centres, libraries and has private clients.

William is a member of several national and international bodies:

  • Member of the All British Chinese Painters Association and the All British Artists Association
  • He is an Outstanding Painter of the Yanhuang Painting Academy of China
  • Member of the World Association of Chinese Artists
  • Vice president of the British Chinese Poetry, Calligraphy and Painting Association;
  • President of the British Branch of China Sketch Society
  • Director of the British branch of “China National Talent Evaluation Committee”

His awards and achievements are numerous:

  • In 2011 – Winner of “British Art Competition and Fine Art Exhibition for the Centenary of the 1911 Revolution” in both painting and calligraphy categories in the UK
  • 2016 – Winner of “Gold medal of Book Fair” held in Zhengzhou, Henan Province in China
  • 2017 – Runner- up of “First Gold Brush Award” in China
  • 2017 – Winner of “The Fourth National Calligraphy and Painting Competition of the Maritime Silk Road” in both painting and calligraphy categories. The museum has added his work to its permanent collection
  • Oct 2019 – The “Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum of China” held an exhibition of his work following which they included the work in their permanent collection
  • Oct 2019 – As one of the selected few he participated in the 70 meter long scroll painting and calligraphy creation activity in Huanghuagang Park, Guangzhou. Huanghuagang Park have included his work in their permanent collection
  • Nov 2019 – Works were selected into the “sixth Maritime Silk Road International Sketch Painting and Calligraphy Competition” and collected by the museum

He has participated in several art activities and collaborations:

  • Jun 2016 – Collaboration with renewed American artist Ms Virginia Lloyd-Davies from “Joyful Brush” for painting demonstration and exhibition in London
  • Feb 2018 he was invited to hold an “Art Workshop” at the National Gallery of London, UK, to do a demonstration performance of Chinese painting and calligraphy
  • 2018 teaching of “Chinese Painting Summer Class” at the prince’s Foundation School of art, London, UK.
  • In 2019, Mr. Cai launched the first British Assessment Test – “China National Talent Assessment Commission” in London, UK

His publications include:

  • 2019 – published an art textbook of “Chinese Painting Techniques” at the invitation of an Australian book publishing company
  • From 1994 to 1996, he published several articles on the art of Chinese painting and calligraphy in British Chinese newspapers, as well as the introduction of Chinese painting and calligraphy and Jinshi (Seal Craving)
  • From 2014 to 2016, he has repeatedly contributed reports on Chinese culture and published introduction articles on calligraphy, painting and Jinshi in the British “Star Island Daily”, “Ouhua Business Daily” and other newspapers

To see William’s work please visit his website

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