Year of the Pig with Baoxing Zhang - January 13th, 2007
2007 is the year of the pig. Whatever preconceptions you might have of the pig, in oriental cultural the pig is held in high regard. Its character symbolizes tolerance and, believe it or not, the pig, symbolically anyway, displays impeccable manners and taste. Did you know that those born under this Chinese astrological sign are often admired and considered trustworthy by others?
Baoxing Zhang led workshop participants in understanding the significance of the pig in oriental culture and how to paint it.
Baoxing began by demonstrating the character for pig.
The character is itself similar to the picture of a pig. Baoxing also wrote the pronunciation of the word pig in Chinese.
Several reference books and sketches were brought by Baoxing to show how different artists painted pigs.
The first sketch showed the structure of the pig, necessary to understand the proportions for the head, body and legs.
Using a dry brush of horse hair, Baoxing Zhang demonstrated how to paint the pig in a detailed precise way.
He then returned to his structural diagram to show how the two-toed hoof was drawn.
Baoxing completed the dry brush pig by adding skin tones with a wider, softer brush.
Next, using the larger, softer goat-hair brush with its natural point, Baoxing Zhang demonstrated how to load the brush correctly by first adding water to the brush and then tipping the point in black ink.
In a single stroke, Baoxing created the head and back of the pig.
Baoxing then added the eyes, nose, mouth and legs.
With the smaller brush, Baoxing added the hoofs.
The completed pig was a smoother version of the animal.
Piglets were added to demonstrate the creation of the smaller pigs.
The completed pig with two piglets made an interesting composition.
Baoxing Zhang then demonstrated how to quickly paint piglets in a manner similar to painting chicks.
Six piglets shown from behind were painted.
Baoxing then painted a simplified, cartoon-like pig.
Participants then had their chance to paint these animals, which proved challenging. Baoxing, however, graciously helped us out one-on-one.
Some hands-on suggestions helped the participants.
This sketch by Baoxing Zhang make it look easy.
In another session with a participant, Baoxing Zhang demonstrated painting the pig from behind.
The second part of the workshop had participants eager to learn more from Baoxing.
The boar, the wild version of the pig, was the subject this time. The head indicated this wilder nature. The nose, for example, is more sharp.
The boar's body is rougher and its demeanor is fierce.
The completed boar in running form was highlighted by adding a landscape about it.
One final pig was painted by Baoxing Zhang from behind.
Baoxing added his seal to this painting as well as a seal for the pig. Baoxing has created his own seals for all 12 animals in Chinese astrology.
The finished painting showed a pig beneath a banana tree. Baoxing Zhang added leaves with a stone green colour. The stone green ink can be applied over wet black ink.
Baoxing brought some of the following examples with him to the workshop. In this painting, a pig with many piglets makes an entertaining composition.
A realistic sketch shows nursing piglets.
Two cantankerous pigs make a comical portrayal of the pig.
The abstract style using a few strokes created some memorable pigs and piglets.
These detailed, dry brush technique pigs attract the viewer's interest by their expressions.
You can find more information on Baoxing Zhang in our links section.