The speed and elegance of traditional Chinese brush-work art can seem a magical skill for western artists used to painting in oils and acrylic. In reality, with a little bit of practice anyone can master this ancient art form — even those who can’t read Chinese!
For the first time two new courses focusing on Calligraphy and Traditional Chinese Painting are being offered through the Tourism Confucius Institute at Griffith University.
The traditional calligraphy course teaches students about the Four Treasures (brush, ink, paper and ink stone) as well as the proper posture, breathing and brush-handling techniques required to draw a character. Ability to read and write Chinese isn’t needed in this course as the step-by-step instructions allow you to learn the characters as you paint.
For those looking to capture a different aspect of brush-art the Traditional Painting Class offers instruction on creating a number of subjects including: swallows, bamboo, wild orchids, plum blossoms, pandas, horses, peonies and fish. By learning the basic shapes that make up each subject it then becomes a simple process of combining them step by step into fantastic artworks.
No previous experience is necessary for either of these courses so everyone is encouraged to attend. These 10 week courses will turn you from novice to artist through one-on-one instruction in a supportive and fun environment.
The Tourism Confucius Institute also offers the ‘Great Wall Chinese’ graduated language courses for every level of proficiency. For those planning a trip to the region, the ‘Traveling in China’ course will give you the basics of navigating the busy streets, booking a hotel and the conversation skills you need for a stress-free holiday. Business leaders may also want to take advantage of ‘Basic Business Chinese’ which helps those wanting to interact with Chinese speaking communities in Australia and internationally. Alongside some basic language skills to get you started, the course also introduces you to the culture and customs associated with doing business with the Chinese community.
For more information, or to enrol in any of these courses, visit The Tourism Confucius Institute website. Courses begin June 1 and are located at both the Griffith University Gold Coast and Nathan campuses.