Huang Guohong — Painting makes me live in peace!
In this article, Huang Guohong (黄国鸿) tells us about Chinese GongBi detail Painting.
Shexian, Huizhou, near Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in Anhui province has long been recognised as one of the most important centres for Chinese painting, as well as home also to Old Hu Kai Wen Ink workshop and traditional inkstone workshop.
We asked the Shexian painters to tell us about their techniques and materials.
Huang Guohong is a representative of the Xin’an school of painting which originated here and started learning GongBi painting at the age of 6. You can also read more about GongBi painting here.
Huang GuoHong Interview
Here Huang GuoHong does a quick sketch for us on gold fleck paper while talking to us about his painting (transcription below).
我是六岁开始学画的，是受到父亲的影响，我自己不是主动的。
六岁时，我在上一年级。有一天学校上美术课，我画了一匹马。
但是拿回家后，父亲说不对，马的脚不是长这样的。
我这才发现画画有这么多乐趣，父亲把我的画改过后，我才意识到，
启蒙是我的父亲而不是任何老师。
而这个时候也是我正式对画画感兴趣的时候。
I was 6 when I started painting. It was my father’s influence, not my own initiative.
When I was six, I was in my first year at school. One day, in my school art class, I drew a horse but when I took it home my father told me it wasn’t right, horse’s hooves are not like long feet.
I then discovered painting was so absorbing, after my father corrected my painting, I realised
my father enlightened me rather than any teacher. I was at that time I really started to be very interested in painting.
上学到三年级的时候，当地有个美术老师，他是教语文的，他画的非常好。 我于是白天上课，晚上作业完成后就跟着他学习画画。老师教了我基本的画画技巧，普通的常识，慢慢地我就这样走上的专业绘画的路一直坚持了下来。
When I was in my third year at school, there was a drawing teacher in my town. He also teaches Chinese. He is very good at drawing. From this time on, I spent my daytime studying at school, and nighttime learning drawing with this teacher. He taught me about basic drawing skills and knowledge about Chinese painting. Little by little, I became a career of being a professional painter.
后来到了高中，家里条件很艰苦，没有办法负担画画的费用，毕竟笔墨纸都是有开销的。怎么办呢？我用水彩笔也好，铅笔勾勒也好，等到自己长大点有能力挣钱了，我有一点钱就用来买工具。我记得那时候我会骑车去很远的地方就为了买一张纸，有钱就买宣纸，没钱就买草纸、毛边纸。那个时候家里所有的能用的纸都被我用来画画了。只要是空白的地方就会被我画满。
Later, I entered high school. At that time, my family is too poor to afford me drawing because the brushes, inks, and papers were not cheap. What could I do? I started to make the most of everything I could get to draw, such as colored pens, pencils, etc. When I grew older and was able to make money, I used all the money I could make on painting materials. I still remember clearly that at that time I would go to a very far shop on bicycle to buy a sheet of Xuan paper. Of course, if I got enough money, I would buy Xuan paper, otherwise, I would buy grass paper – a kind of cheap paper and not as good as Xuan paper, or worse and cheaper papers. In those years, I used up all the paper I could get at home. I drew at any blank places at home.
宣纸是必备的材料，但是用哪种宣纸就取决于画家对纸的掌握，对画的构想。用笔方法则在于画家的习惯，画画没有墨守成规的模式，而是在于画家自己创作的灵感
和对艺术的追求。
如何画一幅自己满意的作品，一定要在作品里面表现出内涵、意境。每一笔，用色用墨和线条都要有一定的张力。
Xuan paper is a must-have material for Chinese painting. However, since there are different kinds of Xuan paper, using which kind is up to the painter’s idea on the painting and how well the painter masters the paper. The use of brushes is mostly up to the painter’s habits. There is no strict rules on painting. The most important elements are the painter’s inspirations and his own pursuit of arts. A satisfactory painting should envoy deep emotions and meanings. Each brush, color, ink, and lines should be powerful enough to resonate strong emotions in people.
中国画是以点、线、面结合，辅以墨、宣纸作成的。其中墨分五色，墨的用水程度在于画家的习惯以及各种技法的掌握决定的。中国画主要还是以线条突出的，线条给中国画以血肉。这与油画是有区别的。中国画是中国的国粹。宣纸、徽墨，在用水用墨上以个人画家形成的习惯，产生的效果，加上个人对画的理解，产生了形式。写意、工笔、泼墨、兼工代写、重彩等，分类很多。根据个人喜好，学习阶段不同而有不同的表现形式。我喜欢工笔的，他喜欢画传统的，中国画都是从传统发展来的，古人的山水画，古人的各种花鸟画，无论从哪个角度来说都是非常高超的。都是点线画组合起来的，色彩只是辅助性的作用，点线面是最重要的。中国画可以不用色彩，墨就可以分为五种，每种里面还可以再分。其中饱含了历史中积淀下来的经验。我们应该加深对古人画作的了解，以便更好地运用到自己的画作上。无论如何，自己的态度要认真，比如画线条要认真地画，认真地去理解为什么这个线条要这样画。
Chinese paintings are composed with points, lines, and surface. Also the use of Xuan paper and inks are crucial for a nice painting. Ink can be divided into five colors. How much water should be added into ink is up to each painter’s personal habits and how well he masters the skills. Chinese paintings make very good use of lines, which give Chinese paintings flesh and blood. This is very different from oil paintings. Chinese painting is quintessence of Chinese culture. Different people always have different ways to use Xuan paper, brushes, and ink. This makes each painting has its own characteristics. In different stages of your learning, you will have different styles. Some people might like Gong Bi Hua while other people prefer traditional paintings. All Chinese paintings are developed from traditional types, which have very high-level skills. Paintings are mostly composed with points, lines and surfaces. Color only facilitate the painter to express his ideas. Chinese painting can be done without using any color but ink. The black ink can be made into at least five colors, different degrees of blackness. In fact, there are much more than five types of blacknesses. How to make most of the ink depends very much on your painting experience. I think we should have deeper understanding of ancient paintings and use these skills on our own paintings. In any case, the attitude is the most important to do a nice painting. For example, you should paint each line seriously and understand well why you want to paint this line in such a way.
每一张画，只要自己坚持，不要有功利的想法，没有想过自己一定要成为什么名家，大画家。那个时候我们画画就是单纯地为了兴趣爱好，放牛也好，下田干活也好，到了晚上自己就会偷偷摸摸地上楼去画画，也不敢让家人知道。为什么不敢让家人知道呢？因为晚上开灯要花钱，家里人会反对。后来我出去打工了，开始自己养活自己了。然后再把精力、时间、金钱投入到画画上。 但是今天我知道，画画是非常严肃的事情，不是小时候认为的有趣。中国艺术非常丰富，单是画画这一 块就很复杂了。画画需要严谨的态度。每个人的思想都不一样，态度也不一样。我们现在还年青，要把自己的爱好变为事业。我们要试着让中国文化走得更高更远。虽然这个有点远，但是我可以从自己做起。我自己把自己喜好的事情做好，把画画好，给大家带来乐趣互相交流。
Every painting, as long as you try your best and do it without any secular purposes that you have to be famous, you will paint very well. When I was little, I painted simply for personal interest. Whenever I was and whatever I do, I always managed to paint. During the day I had to graze cattle, work in fields but I would sneak upstairs to draw. I was afraid to let my family know what I was doing at night because I had to use light to draw and electricity had cost. Later, when I was old enough, I started working in factories and was able to make a living on my own. I spend all my resources – time, energy, and money on painting. Now, I believe that painting should be treated seriously. It is not just an interesting thing as I thought when I was little. Chinese art is very complicated. Painting needs sincere attitude. Everyone’s ideas are different, so are the attitudes. We are still young and should make painting a serous career. We should also try our best to make Chinese culture develop better. Although this is a mission difficult to realize, we can start doing this from ourselves. I do the thing I love well, I paint well. I hope I can bring high-quality communication to other people.
对初学者而言，书画爱好者喜欢中国画，甚至有冲动要去了解要去学，这样的人很多。中青年、退休的老年人。学，谁都可以学，这里并没有一个界限。不要带着功利的心态去学。入门的话，有些人喜欢书法，有些人山水，有些人牡丹等等，要从自己喜欢的角度来学。放松地去学喜欢的东西，不要在乎画的好坏，写的好坏。只要自己开心，你在学习的过程中也结识到良师益友。
Anyone can learn Chinese painting as long as he/she likes it. There is no requirements. For beginners, you can start painting your favorite things. Relax and do not pay much attention to whether you draw it well or not. As long as you are happy, you will be able to make progress.
落款、盖章，这样一幅作品便完成了。
After you finish your painting, you should sign and stamp it. Then, a painting is completed.
More on Gongbi Painting
Bella imagen.