Summary:
This paper explores the non-action of nature in watercolor painting, that is, the embodiment of the beauty of nature through observation, cognition, and expression. First of all, the characteristics and charm of watercolor painting and its close relationship with nature are introduced. Then, the observation and cognition of watercolor painters in the creative process are discussed in depth, and how to express the beauty of nature through watercolor painting. Finally, the techniques and practices of watercolor painters in creation, as well as the play of creativity and imagination, are discussed.
I. Introduction
The natural world is the source of inspiration for artists, and watercolorists use the medium of watercolor painting to observe, recognize and express the world with a natural and inactive attitude. Natural inaction is an important concept in ancient Chinese philosophical thought, emphasizing the attitude of conforming to nature, not imposing, and not intervening. In the creation of watercolor painting, the artist can better grasp the combination of water and color, as well as the flexibility and color expression ability of watercolor painting through the natural state of mind and posture.
Since ancient times, artists have regarded nature as an endless creative resource, drawing inspiration and nutrients from nature, and constantly broadening their horizons and cognition by observing various scenes and phenomena in the natural world. As a special painting medium, watercolor has unique advantages in expressing the beauty and mystery of the natural world. It not only accurately and delicately depicts the colors, light and shadows and textures of nature, but also presents a unique artistic effect through the flow of water and the penetration of pigments.
II. Natural inaction and artistic creation
A. The conceptual and philosophical background of natural inaction
Natural non-action is an important concept in ancient Chinese philosophical thought, which originated from the Taoist school, emphasizing the attitude of conforming to nature, not imposing, and not intervening. It acknowledges the spontaneity and self-discipline of the natural world, and advocates that people should observe and understand the world with an open mind, rather than intervene and change excessively. The idea of natural inaction is rooted in the concept of the unity of nature and man in traditional Chinese culture, which believes that man and nature are interdependent and mutually influential.
In artistic creation, the conceptual and philosophical background of natural non-action provides important inspiration for artists. First of all, natural inaction emphasizes the importance of observation and perception. Artists need to observe various scenes and phenomena in nature with an open eye, and obtain inspiration and creative materials from them through in-depth perception and experience. The natural world is rich in color, light, shadow, and texture, and artists can capture these details through observation and perception and translate them into expressions of artwork.
Second, natural inaction emphasizes an attitude of conformity and integration. Artists should respect the laws and rhythms of nature in the creative process, and integrate with them, rather than forcibly changing or violating them. As a unique artistic medium, watercolor painting can better express the agility and changes of nature with the help of the flow of water and the penetration of pigments. Through the attitude of adaptation and integration, the artist can organically combine the characteristics of watercolor painting with the beauty of nature, so that the works have a stronger vitality and sense of nature.
B. The Enlightenment of Natural Inaction to Artistic Creation
The idea of natural inaction has a profound enlightenment for artistic creation. First of all, it reminds artists to maintain a humble and sensitive mindset. Artistic creation requires artists to constantly learn and grow, maintaining a real and direct connection with the natural world. It is only through humble gestures and sensitive perception that artists can truly understand and convey the beauty and mystery of the natural world.
Secondly, the idea of natural non-action encourages artists to explore their inner intuition and feelings. Artistic creation requires artists to listen to their inner voices and discover their personal emotions and expressions. Through the state of mind and posture of natural inaction, artists are able to express their emotions and thoughts more freely, making their works more unique and artistic.
In addition, natural inaction also reminds artists to pay attention to balance and harmony in their creations. A work of art needs to find a balance between form and content, color and composition, so that the work as a whole presents a harmonious beauty. Through the idea of natural non-action, the artist can better grasp the overall structure and expressive effect of the work, so that it can be harmoniously integrated with the natural world.
C. Watercolor paintings embody the characteristics of natural inaction
As a unique art form, watercolor painting can well reflect the characteristics of natural inaction. First of all, watercolors have the fluidity and transparency of water. By controlling the flow of water and the penetration of pigments, watercolorists can show the flow of water and the change of color in nature. The uniqueness of watercolor painting lies in its ability to express the softness and fluidity of water, giving the work a natural beauty.
Secondly, the color expression of watercolor painting is more delicate and transparent. The colors of watercolor paintings can express a multi-layered effect by superimposing and transparency, making the work more vivid and layered. By using the observation and perception of natural inaction, watercolor painters can better grasp the color changes and light and shadow effects in nature, making their works more realistic and artistic.
In addition, the materials and tools of watercolor painting are also in line with the idea of natural non-action. The pigments and paper used in watercolor painting are both natural materials that have not been processed and altered too much. Watercolorists can achieve the purpose of artistic creation by controlling the flow of water and the penetration of pigments so that they have a natural interaction with the paper.
III. The Combination of Water and Color: The Basic Characteristics of Watercolor Painting
A. Materials and tools for watercolor painting
The materials and tools used in watercolor painting play an important role in presenting the characteristics of natural non-action. First of all, the pigments used in watercolor painting are extracted from natural minerals and plants, which have transparent and vivid colors. These pigments interact with water when applied to the paper, giving the work a soft and warm texture.
Secondly, the paper used in watercolor painting is also crucial. The texture and water absorption of the paper will directly affect the effect of the watercolor painting. In general, paper with a moderate thickness and a coarser texture is better suited for watercolor painting because it absorbs moisture and pigments better, making the colors fuller and more layered.
In addition to paint and paper, watercolors also require a number of tools to aid in their creation. Commonly used tools include watercolor pens, brushes, color palettes, sponges, and absorbent paper, among others. Watercolour pens and brushes can be used to draw details and lines, palettes are used to mix pigments, and sponges and absorbent paper can be used to control the flow of water and the penetration of pigments.
B. Techniques and expressions of watercolor painting
Watercolor painting has a rich variety of techniques and expressions, and artists can choose the appropriate techniques for expression according to their own creative needs and styles. Here are a few common watercolor techniques:
Dry painting method: Applying dry paint directly to the paper without adding water can present delicate brushstrokes and heavy colors. This technique is suitable for depicting details and emphasizing shapes.
Wet Painting: The paper is pre-soaked with water and then pigments are added to allow the pigments to flow freely on the paper, creating soft color transitions and gradients. This technique is suitable for expressing soft light and atmosphere.
Drip method: water droplets or blended pigments are dropped on the paper, allowing the water and pigments to interact freely to form a random effect. This technique can produce unexpected textures and shapes, adding interest and surprise to the work.
Scraping: Use a blade, eraser, or other tool to gently scrape off the dry pigment to reveal the underlying color of the paper. This technique creates rich textures and layers.
C. The fluidity of water in watercolors
Water in watercolor painting is one of the important elements to express natural inaction. Water is fluid and transparent, and the fluidity of water can be expressed by controlling the flow of water and the penetration of pigments. Artists can take advantage of the free flow of water to make the pigment spread softly across the paper, creating soft color transitions and gradients. The fluidity of the water also allows for the creation of unique textures and shapes, adding to the liveliness and artistry of the work.
D. The perception and expression of color in watercolor painting
Color is of great significance to the expression of watercolor painting. The pigments used in watercolor painting are transparent and vivid, and can express multi-layered effects by superimposing and transparency. Artists can use the transparency of the pigment to allow the colors to blend freely on the paper, creating soft transitions and gradients. Through the use of color, artists can express the light, shadow and atmosphere of nature, conveying emotions and emotions.
IV. Expand the observation, cognition and understanding of the natural world
A. Watercolorist's observation and perception of the natural world
The observation and perception of the natural world is one of the key steps in the creative process of watercolor painters. Through meticulous observation, watercolorists are able to capture subtle yet unique sights and atmospheres in nature. First of all, watercolorists will conduct in-depth observations of the colors, light and shadows, shapes and textures of the natural world to grasp the characteristics and breaths of the natural world. For example, a watercolorist might look closely at the petals and leaves of a flower or the trunk and leaves of a tree to capture its details and changes in form.
Secondly, watercolorists will focus on perceiving the atmosphere and emotions of the natural world. The climate, seasons, region, and environment of nature all have an impact on the creation of watercolor painters. For example, different atmospheres such as a sunny spring day, a rainy autumn, and a cold winter day will inspire different emotions and creative inspirations for watercolor painters.
B. Cultivation of the cognitive and comprehension skills of watercolor painters
The cognitive and comprehension of a watercolor painter is another important aspect of his creative process. Through the observation and experience of the natural world, watercolorists can cultivate rich cognitive and understanding skills, so as to better express the beauty and artistic conception of the natural world. First of all, watercolorists need to continuously accumulate knowledge and experience of the natural world, including knowledge of plants, animals, landforms, weather, etc. Through study and practice, watercolorists can gradually improve their cognitive level of the natural world, so as to more accurately represent the characteristics and breath of the natural world.
Secondly, watercolorists need to cultivate their imagination and creativity in order to better understand and represent the beauty of the natural world. The natural world is unpredictable, and watercolorists need to have an imagination that transcends reality to explore the deep meaning and inner secrets behind the natural world. Through the cultivation of cognition and understanding of the natural world, watercolorists can create more imaginative and creative works, thus enriching the audience's aesthetic experience and cognitive level.
C. The representation and interpretation of the natural world in watercolor paintings
The representation and interpretation of the natural world in watercolor paintings is an important way for watercolor painters to express their observation, cognition and understanding. Through the reproduction of the natural world, watercolor painters can present the beauty of the natural world to the audience and arouse the audience's love and yearning for nature. At the same time, watercolor painters can also express their understanding and perception of nature through the interpretation of the natural world, so as to trigger the audience's thinking and reflection on the natural world.
In watercolor paintings, watercolorists often use color, brushstrokes, composition, and other techniques to reproduce the scenes and atmospheres of the natural world. For example, a watercolorist can use pastel colors and delicate brushstrokes to depict spring sunshine, summer grass, autumn leaves, and winter snow to show the beauty of the different seasons and climates in nature. At the same time, watercolorists can also interpret the connotation and meaning of the natural world through composition and modeling, such as expressing the magnificence of nature, the fragility of life, the passage of time and other themes to arouse the audience's thinking and perception of the natural world.
V. 摸索水彩画秉性锻炼技能
A. Learn and practice watercolor painting skills
The study and practice of watercolor painting skills is one of the key steps to become a good watercolor painter. Watercolor painting has a unique way of expression and characteristics, so it requires a certain skill to better express one's creativity and observations. First of all, watercolorists need to learn the basic skills of watercolor painting, including color mixing, humidity control, composition of the picture, use of brushstrokes, etc. By systematically learning these basic techniques, watercolorists can build a solid foundation for painting that will support further creations.
In addition to learning the basics, watercolorists also need to practice to constantly improve their skills. Only by hands-on practice can we better understand and grasp the characteristics and difficulties of watercolor painting. In the practice of watercolor painting, watercolorists can experiment with different tools such as canvases, paints, brushes, and paper to find a combination of materials that works for them. At the same time, watercolorists can also practice their skills and expressive abilities by painting works on various themes and objects, such as landscapes, still lifes, figures, etc.
B. Cultivation of creativity and imagination of watercolorists
The creativity and imagination of watercolorists are important qualities in their artistic creation. Watercolor painting is flexible and diverse, giving the painter more room to play. Watercolorists need to nurture their creativity and imagination in order to bring out their unique personal style and point of view in their creations. First and foremost, watercolorists can cultivate their creativity by observing and thinking. Observing the beauty of the natural world, the demeanor of the people, the form of the object, etc., can inspire the painter to create. Thinking about the meaning and connotation behind the natural world can help painters dig deeper into their own creative themes and expressions.
Secondly, watercolorists can also show a unique style of expression by cultivating their own imagination. Imagination is an important driving force in the creation of watercolor paintings, which can make the work more creative and imaginative. Painters can try to transcend reality, such as exaggeration, distortion, decoration, etc., to show their own imaginary world. At the same time, watercolorists can also cultivate their imagination by experimenting with different themes, scenes, and emotions to show a richer and more diverse artistic expression.
C. Personal style and expression in watercolor
The personal style and expression in watercolor painting is an important hallmark of a watercolor painter's difference. Each watercolorist has their own unique artistic style and expression, which is a unique presentation of their observation, cognition and imagination of the natural world. First of all, watercolorists can show their personal style through the choice and use of painting style. The style of painting can be realism, impressionism, abstraction, etc., and each style has its own unique way of expression and visual effect. Watercolorists can choose their own painting style according to their own preferences and artistic pursuits, and constantly develop and improve them in their creation.
In addition to the style of painting, watercolorists can also show personal expression through the choice of themes and emotions. The subjects of watercolor paintings can include natural landscapes, human figures, abstract concepts, etc., and each theme can become a vehicle for the painter to express his own views and emotions. Watercolorists can choose the subjects they are interested in, and express their opinions and emotions through color, composition, brushstrokes, etc. Through continuous practice and exploration, watercolor painters can gradually form a unique personal style and expression, and show a unique artistic charm.
VI. Conclusion
In this article, we explore the non-action of nature in watercolor: observation, cognition, and expression. First, we introduced the characteristics and charm of watercolor painting, as well as its relationship with the natural world. Watercolor, with its soft colors, flowing brushstrokes and natural expression, has become an ideal vehicle for expressing the beauty of nature. Secondly, we explore the observation, cognition, and expression of watercolorists in the creative process. Through observation and reflection on the natural world, watercolorists can better recognize the beauty and mystery of the natural world and present it through the expression of watercolor painting. Finally, we discussed the techniques and practices of watercolorists, creativity and imagination, and personal style and expression. Watercolorists need to develop their painting skills and artistic literacy through continuous learning and practice, while using their creativity and imagination to show their unique personal style and perspective.
Author: Lu Xilin
Bibliography:
Schafer, A. (2018). The Joy of Watercolor: 40 Happy Lessons for Painting the World Around You. Quarry Books.
Van Hasselt, G. (2020). Watercolor Painting: A Guide to Creative Mastery. Dover Publications.
Disclaimer: All articles (including graphics, papers, audio and video, etc.) under my account can be reprinted or quoted at will after 72 hours from the date of publication, without informing me. If you need to request a manuscript, please contact [email protected]