Chinese Ink Painting
Students experience the art of traditional Chinese ink painting.
SCHOOL: Blue Heron Middle School
TEACHING ARTIST:Susan Doyle
GRADE: 6 (can be adapted to any grade)
One 90 minute class
Lesson: Students will create an ink painting using Chinese characters, a natural element, and unique signature in Chinese (chop) using specialized traditional art materials.
Student
Target Learning: Learns Chinese painting techniques with specialized art materials.
Criteria: Correctly uses bamboo brushes, ink, and rice paper as instructed by demonstration/instruction.
Target Learning: Creates a painting in the tradition of Chinese ink painting.
Criteria: Completes a painting with asymmetrical balance of Chinese characters, a natural element, and a unique signature chop.
Target Learning: Creates a range of tone in painting.
Criteria: Shows gradation of value from dark to light in warm up or final painting.
Vocabulary (click here for the glossary)
Asymmetry
Balance
Bamboo brush
Chinese calligraphy
Chop
Ink
Ink stick
Ink-grinding stone
Rice paper
Yang
Yin
Materials (click here to find sources)
Bamboo brushes
India ink
Cups
Newsprint
Rice paper 11"x17"
Styrofoam squares 2" x 2"
Red acrylic paint
Red construction paper 12"x18"
Glue
Bamboo sticks
Red ribbon
Smocks
Resources Introduced:
Ancient Chinese Art and Culture Packet, examples of Chinese nature paintings, large Chinese calligraphy paintings, and examples of Chinese characters.
Creative process and resources introduced (lesson steps)
Teaching artist shares example of a large Chinese Calligraphy painting with students and discusses characteristics of painting. Class also discusses background knowledge of Chinese Calligraphy characters and culture.
Teaching artist shares all materials used in Chinese Ink Painting: Ink, brushes, and rice paper, then demonstrates how to use brush, ink and paper: Students practice making Chinese characters and natural elements-flowers, fruits, landscapes using gradation–darks and lights of ink. Students are encouraged to show restraint in painting by using direct, simple brush strokes to show natural elements.
Students complete a "final painting" after warm up. Painting criteria is emphasized: paintings should have an asymmetrical composition of Chinese words/characters, a natural element of choice, and signature chop.
Student then use a pencil to press into 2"x2" square piece of foam to create a Chinese chop to use to "sign" their artwork. Once incised into foam, students paint the square red and print (using an up and down motion like a stamp) on bottom of painting. The paintings are to be mounted on 12"x18" red construction paper with bamboo stick and red ribbon used to hang in the school.
Assessment (strategies, forms, guidelines, reflection questions)
Class/individual discussion & guidance during creative process
Classroom teacher and teaching artist assistance/guidance
Class display in school
Student Reflection questions at end of studio session
Essential Learnings (Art and other EALR's referenced)
1.1.1 Concepts and Vocabulary: Value, gradation, line, shape
1.1.2 Principals of organization: Asymmetrical balance
1.2 Arts skills and techniques: Brush and ink painting/calligraphy
1.3 Understands various cultures and times: Chinese
2.1 Creative Process: Organizes elements
4.4 Arts shape and reflect culture and history: Traditional art forms