Year of the Snake with Baoxing Zhang - February 8th, 2025
Did you know that the snake is regarded in Chinese culture as a symbol of wisdom? Symbolic meanings for the snake can be found in most cultures. A more playful symbol brought by Baoxing Zhang was a toy snake.
Baoxing Zhang began by demonstrating the Chinese characters for the snake.
The head of the snake is like a diamond.
Scales on the head of the snake are different from the scales on the body.
The eye is a slit similar to a cat's eye.
Baoxing Zhang created the curving body of the snake.
The body of the snake twists as it moves. The top of the snake has scales but the belly is ribbed.
The tongue is red and the belly is yellow.
Baoxing Zhang added these colours to his snake.
Another snake was made in one brush stroke.
The open mouth of a snake often indicates an attack.
Baoxing Zhang painted a curling snake.
Then he added the bamboo that it was curled about.
Artists began painting their own snakes with help from Baoxing Zhang.
The snake fascinates and challenges artists.
Baoxing Zhang returned to demonstrate a bamboo shoot with green paint on the brush and black ink on the edges to create a round bamboo shoot.
Bamboo leaves vary depending on the number of stems.
Then Baoxing Zhang added the bamboo leaves.
A snake climbed the bamboo.
Artists could continue painting the snake with help from Baoxing Zhang's paintings.
This coiled snake struck a thoughtful pose.
These slithering snakes provided a more contemplative view of the snake.
Baoxing Zhang created a snake with a single stroke using the hake brush.
Vibrate the brush as you paint the snake body.
Use a medium brush to paint the features of the head.
A remarkable painting of a snake.
You can learn more about Baoxing Zhang in the links section.