Oi Yee Tai began her workshop by explaining that mastering the brush strokes for a fish often begins by learning the brush strokes in calligraphy.
In Chinese characters the word fish began almost with a picture of a fish in the oldest form of the word.
As time advanced, a more abstract word replaced it which became the cursive word used by artists writing in Chinese.
Practicing Chinese calligraphy is done with a grid to teach the artist the correct position of the brush strokes.
When you write, begin with lots of black ink on your brush.
Oi Yee Tai demonstrated calligraphy for the fish and how the brush strokes can be usefully applied to paintings later.
Calligraphy is itself an art form in which the brush strokes are as much a part of the art as the words.
Artists at the workshop attempted their own calligraphy with Oi Yee Tai’s help.
Oi Yee Tai then showed some scrolls of her fish in preparation for her demonstration.
Begin with the structure of the fish. Oi Yee Tai’s fish was twisted in a life like way.
Fins like the dorsal fin and tail were added. Oi Yee Tai reminded artists that not all fins will be shown in a painting.
The eye requires some thought using grey, black ink and some circles. Use white to indicate reflecting light. Scales follow a pattern and are similar in size.
Oi Yee Tai returned to her fish.
Scales were added using a smaller brush.
Shading can be added with a larger brush spreading a grey tone over the scales
The eye is carefully painted with a small brush. Take your time working on precise details like the eye.
Oi Yee Tai added some ink splashing effects to make the painting more lively.
The result was a fish jumping off the page.
Oi Yee Tai checked the eye one more time.
Artists created their own fish with help from Oi Yee Tai’s handouts.
Creating a life like fish is challenging.
Oi Yee Tai’s fish is almost upright as it leaps from the water.
The idea is to create a work of art that expresses the dynamic natural world of rivers and seas.
You can learn more about Oi Yee Tai on her website.