Chinese Landscape Painting for Beginners

Explore the rich tradition of Chinese painting through our visual art courses in Sydney.

San sui (literally means Mountain & Water) is a mainstream painting subject in Classical Chinese painting. It flourished alongside the birth of literati art in China during the Song dynasty (960~ 1279 CE). This visual journey also carries a symbolic meaning of human life.

In classical landscape painting, we do not merely copy the physical outlook of nature. We regard it as a combination of our soul and the spiritual essence of the existing world. It is a visual recreation which integrates our personal temperament and the symbolic quality of landscape into a perfect harmony: a metaphor of men and heaven/nature are ONE. Through this course, we shall learn all basic skills in water ink painting in an expressive way. It is also a visual path as a self-cultivated journey. The evolution of four seasons is also an expedition of our own life from birth towards maturity. This provides a deeper metaphysical contemplation to be embodied in our creativity.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will have explored concepts and techniques such as:

• The principal aesthetic theory of Chinese painting and 4 major categories
• Basic skills of water ink painting and pigment usage
• Symbolic meaning in Chinese landscape painting
• Usage of the 4 treasures (instruments) in the Chinese studio

Course content

During the course, participants will work with techniques and ideas such as:

• Introduction, brush movement and ink control
• Rock wrinkles and mountain depiction
• Trees and plants in a rural area
• Colour usage with the Chinese palette
• Moss dots, distant trees and mountains in perspective expression
• Finishing a small-scale landscape painting with signature and stone seals

Intended audience

Who is this Chinese Painting Course for? 

This is a course for beginners; all are welcome. Franz teaches in English and Chinese. 

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd on the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Course materials

If you wish to use your own materials, please bring the following:

•  1 × medium line brush (brown hair), 1 × smaller line brush (brown)
• Chinese paper (roll or pad)
• Chinese ink
• Art supply information will be provided in lesson 1.

Brushes, ink and Chinese paper are provided. 

Additional information

• Closed-in shoes required
• Please wear old clothes and/or bring an apron
• Long hair must be tied back
• Content may vary slightly depending on class pace, participant interests, and instructor approach.