4th Grade Asian Ink Paintings

One of my favorites... 4th grade is learning what value is and how to use this in creating artwork. We first measured, marked, and created a watercolor value scale (Value is the lightness or darkness of a color). Students learned about the process and skill of *Asian ink painting and first practiced a special technique for painting bamboo. Next students painted on long scroll-like paper and started with a very light value wash, slowly adding darker and darker value layers. We are putting the finishing touched on and they should be completed very soon.

Here's an example of a value scale:

 4th grade Asian Ink Paintings...

* Asian ink painting has been a very prestigious skill in China and Japan for well over a thousand years. The subject matter is based on animals, landscapes, people... in nature. The traditional ink paintings are created with water and an ink stone and bamboo brushes. There are different techniques for painting - a special flick of the wrist for bamboo leaves, a drier brush for a more textured brushstroke, etc. Some paintings may have a pop of color in them. They are usually created on silk or very thin rice paper and often the items or animals portrayed have a distinct abstract style to them. The red squarish seal (or chop) is usually the stamped on with a red paste, which is the signature of the artist.