Special Subjects: Beginning Chinese Brush

PROJECT ONESHAPE & CONTOUR

The graceful nature and flowing movement of cats make felines the perfect subject for learning Chinese brush painting. Using black ink, practice making smooth brushstrokes to capture the elegant shape.

Prepare your workstation and start grinding some ink using an ink stick and ink stone. Add water, and make sure you have nice, clear black ink.

SITTING CAT

To start the body, draw a long line down, using less pressure at the end so a pointed tip results. Draw a shorter line that curves to the left. Add a third line that curves down on the right side of the cat.

Load a medium brush, and using just the tip of your brush, ...