Many modern Chinese painters always like to refer to the way of Western art when coloring, and paint the colors of the picture dazzling and mottled.
As an expression of individuality, this is understandable, but I personally think that the color of Chinese painting should still be a little exquisite.
1. The color tone of Chinese painting
The color tone of Chinese painting is generally gray, mainly because most of the ancient pigments are derived from natural plants, animals or minerals. During the extraction process, these pigments tend to lose their original vibrant colors.
In addition, Chinese painting uses ink as the main painting material, and even when coloring, it is often blended or collided with ink to create rich layering and textured effects.
This treatment results in a darker tone of the picture, presenting a high-end color effect similar to Morandi.
This method of color harmony coincides with the color concept advocated by the modern West, making the overall tone of the picture unified and harmonious, exuding a unique charm.
In order to have a deeper understanding of the use of traditional Chinese colors, I highly recommend reading "Traditional Chinese Colors" edited by Guo Hao and Li Jianming.
This book is an aesthetic and professional discussion of traditional Chinese colors, and is an indispensable reference book for readers who want to understand the color tone of Chinese painting.
Second, the color of Chinese painting should be calm and atmospheric
Chinese painting, as an important part of the cultural inheritance of Chinese culture, shoulders the lofty mission of showing the profound cultural heritage and connotation of China. In this unique art form, the use of color is not only a demonstration of the artist's emotional expression and creative skills, but also a unique way of inheriting Chinese culture.
When we look back at ancient Chinese architecture, it is not difficult to find the aesthetic tendency of color contained in it.
Take the Forbidden City, for example, this complex of buildings with high status, its use of color is just right. Although it is bright, it is unassuming, showing a restrained and steady beauty.
Red is vermilion instead of bright red, yellow is bright yellow instead of lemon yellow, blue is indigo, and green is stone green. These colors shine in the sunlight, adding a gorgeous decorative effect to the building, while also showcasing the rich heritage of Chinese culture.
The charm of Chinese culture lies in its inclusiveness and weight, majestic and not aggressive. This quality is also reflected in Chinese painting.
Color is a crucial part of Chinese painting, which directly affects the overall style and atmosphere of the painting. Therefore, the color of Chinese painting should be bright and not eye-catching, domineering but not aggressive.
The painter should create the color effect of the painting with a strong demeanor, so that the viewer can feel the unique charm of Chinese culture while appreciating the painting.
3. The color of Chinese painting should not be too mottled
Colorful images often elicit strong emotional responses. When looking at a colorful Chinese painting, we may feel a lively atmosphere or a vibrant sense of clarity.
However, we must realize that Chinese painting was originally a cultural vehicle used by literati and artists to cultivate their self-cultivation and express their inner interests. The mood and ambition of such paintings are often serene and elevated, so the color settings of the picture should not be too mottled.
When creating a Chinese painting, the painter should carefully select and match the colors to ensure that the picture presents a harmonious and serene visual effect. Even in situations where multiple colors need to be used, the painter should follow certain color matching principles to avoid the picture being too cluttered.
Only in this way can Chinese painting better play its role of self-cultivation and expression of aspirations, so that the viewer can feel the quiet and noble artistic atmosphere while appreciating the paintings.
Fourth, the color of Chinese painting should have its own tone
As an important part of Chinese culture, Chinese painting has always been characterized by calmness and quietness. However, this does not mean that painters cannot express their individuality in color.
In fact, many masters of Chinese painting have shown their unique personal characteristics in coloring while maintaining their traditions.
Taking Bada Shanren as an example, his paintings use almost exclusively ink color, and through the transformation of shades and shades, the layering and sense of space of the picture are vividly expressed. His ink, like his inner world, is deep and full of connotation.
Looking at Pan Tianshou again, his works prefer to use earthy yellow, and this choice of color makes his paintings give people a thick and rustic feeling, as if people can feel the breath of the earth.
Zhang Daqian is unique, he is good at using the technique of green splashing dyeing, so that the picture presents a fresh and natural beauty. His green, like the breath of spring, brings vitality and vitality to people.
Li Keran, on the other hand, prefers to dye vermilion in his paintings, and this choice of color makes his paintings full of enthusiasm and passion.
These unique colour schemes not only make the artist's work unique, but also make it more recognizable and make it easy for people to identify their work. At the same time, these unique color design methods are also a kind of expression of the painters' personality, and they use their own artistic tone to show their unique charm to the world.
To sum up, the color of Chinese painting should be calm and atmospheric, not too mottled, and at the same time, it should also have its own personality, so as to not only promote traditional culture but also reflect its own unique tone.