How to paint, in new idea
 

Jan.22, the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Monkey. (1932, 44, 56, 68, 80, 92). Aren't you going to send a gift to your lovely one who is a monkey?

How do you design a picture of a monkey in a fresh look?

Prize opportunity. If it's correct, you'll get 10 points, after 100 points, you will receive a book.

A famous Chinese artist designed one is kind of human touch.

Please make a guess. His concept is a six letter word starting with letter m. The answer will be given later.

When painting at a private garden, where a worker was nearby, suddenly, I was imaging back in ancient Greek or Rome: the scene, the sun, the relationship of artist and patron, somehow remained the same.

I didn't develop my thought further, to paint a self-portrait, that Shen Jiawei did.

See:
http://www.portraitartists.com.au/li...hp?listingID=6

Instead of Spiderman - Spidermonkey

Comic book maker - six letter word beginning with m:

Thanks
 

Thanks for sharing that website. It was beautiful. A very interesting idea, about transporting yourself to another time in a painting. It evokes all sorts of feelings.

I was born in 1956, but for my culture, it is not a compliment to be called a monkey. I tell some of the little kids I deal with daily at school that they are little monkeys as a way to tease them. By this I mean that they are way too active, climbing around like a monkey does, over trees and everything. For asian cultures, does the monkey have any particular symbolism or meaning? I've always wondered.

Since there is a leap February 2nd in Lunar calender in this year, so are two Februaries for this year, and "Feb. 2nd, a dragon raises its head". Can you see? this giant dragon has raised its head twice now. It is time to raise your head, if you are a real dragon.

"The dragons fights in the field. Their blood runs black and yellow". Which book this phrase is from? What is its meaning?

Dear Julie: It is your year, a productive year but be cautious. You are right, although they praise every animal for good wish, there are many negative idioms relate to monkey. Tell those monkey kids, monkey is smart and very popular , lovely one for Chinese children.

The answer for above word game is "mother".

See
http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/jq.html

"When Mao died in 1976, Jiang lost the support and major source of justification for her political activities. Hua Guofeng arrested her and the other members of the Gang of Four. I personally always thought that the poster below, made in 1976 and published a year later, was an allegorical way of showing the defeat of Jiang. Monkey (Sun Wukong), the hero of the popular Ming-dynasty novel Journey to the West, stood for the Chinese people, and the White Bone Demon, a devil of the first order, was Jiang Qing. However, when I proposed this theory to veteran designers Ha Qiongwen and Qian Daxin (formerly of the Shanghai People's Arts Publishing House), they were very amused, but insisted this was not the case."

see
http://kaladarshan.arts.ohio-state.e...ew/newoil.html

Ren Bishi at the road of the Long March
Ren Bishi: One of founders of China P. R. .Could be the head of China. (S.B. Wang is his grandnephew).
After viewing this painting, can you tell why the artist choose this action--fishing? A 10 point out of 100 total, toward a book prize.

http://cn.cl2000.com/art100/100works...?lan=en&id=215

Hi SB,

Who set the agenda?

I have thought about your riddle, but can not come up with any single and only answer to it.

Can you answer mine ?

Allan

Allan:
Thanks for your interest. This is not a riddle but a fairly basic thing. One needs to know how to read people: his occupation, character---we've heard this repeatedly, body language, implied meaning, etc.

SB,

If the body language is the key, then it could be that the man fishing (Ren Bishi) will demonstrate to the soldier that he is in no hurry with what he is doing (revolution) and that fishing serves many purposes such as living of the land, time to meditation and reflection. The soldier seem anxious to get on.

What I meant with agenda was that this picture could be commissioned to show a specific situation that could serve as education for the revolutionaries and in that way it would not be the painters idea/agenda.

Allan

Allan: Nice try!
What you said "no hurry" and "living" are really good, part of the answer. You would get some point. But,no hurry to the revolution?
Dear Allan, the burden of the whole army, over 20 thousand life plus one new born baby of his, is on his back.
It is another phrase, "danger exists at every second" when enemy is quite close.
You may consult with someone.
It is the artist's idea. He is a teacher of the Art Col. of the P.L.A. After 1976, artists are not afraid as much as before. Ren is best loved, even Zhou Enlai's image was severely tarnished, especially, after the Cultural Revolution, a calamity, many thought if Ren were alive, many life could have been saved.

Trying a bit more.

I don

Historical Context?
 

Hi SB -

I don't know much of the history of these people, so that makes it difficult to read any more than a general meaning into this picture.

To me, fishing means patience, because one must be patient to get a result.

Also, for me I have a Christian context for fishing. The term "fishing for men" comes to mind, where you seek to help others to come to know Christ. Knowing communist ideology, however, I doubt this is the meaning, but I surely think that patience in meeting a goal is likely.

The body language of the two people in the forefront is calm. They know each other and they trust each other.

I am puzzled by the people in the background. They seem to have been put in the composition as a counterpoint to the two people in the foreground, and they disturb the tranquility of the composition to my eyes.

More thoughts
 

Actually, I looked again at the painting and the two figures are necessary to the composition to balance the direction the foreground figures are heading. What I think disturbs me is how they are almost "floating" in gray. They are meant to be seen, that is for sure. They are literally in opposition to the foreground figures and even appear to be heading in a different direction.

The foreground figure is fishing, but the end of the pole is not seen. Therefore, the symbolism of "the end is not yet in view" could be considered. The goal is not yet met, the whole journey is not complete. The fisher is obviously a teacher to the other figure.

The River
 

Maybe the river has significance. It is the medium for fishing and it divides the two groups.

Okay, SB - I have done what I can to interpret this painting. I would be interested in knowing what was the artist's intention.

Allan and Jullie:
Both of you are in the right direction! Both won ten points.
Ren Bishi is a leader characterized by his keeping calm at critical moment.
Maybe the phrase of "not in a flurried manner" is better than "no
hurry" in expressing its intended meaning. There may have ten points one can analyze.
For instance, in ancient Chinese artwork , we can see many similar paintings: a sole figure fishing, in which it shows: aloof from the masses, and avoiding chaotic society or vanity of material world. On the contrary, this is a new person in big time.As men with guns, they'll change the world. Connecting to the masses is their lifeline,i.e., friendship. In another mollifying aspect of this work, they lived in collective life in war time communism. For instance, soldiers are not too far away.
When I say "when the enemy is close", I didn't mean that the situation is showing on this painting. So maybe the soldier (mainly for compositional purpose)and the river have significance, but they are only secondary.
There is a Chinese idiom related to fishing.
(Edited by Dr. James Yang, NJ)
__________________
.

In real life, Ren was 32, the painting shows over 60. The Artist have to use a familiar but old looking image, a standard portrait ,( for a period of time). Ren wears shorts in the Long March in summer. The artist changed that, too. The color is amazing, not copying reality but better than reality.
The artistic truth doesn't equal to reality. Art should be stronger, more concentrated, more typical.
When one said "no hurry", he might consider that action at that moment and place only. But the artist, making use of a scene at this time and place, intend to show his lifetime character.

http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=us...il&p=ren+bishi

Thank you for this comment, SB. It sums up what I've been trying to clarify for myself for some time.

What can we inspire from sharpening a knife?

SB,
Something that is indeed inspiring is to try to view things from a new angle. That could be to try to understand another persons point of view and the history behind it.

You present so many interesting opinions and angles on the field of painting for which I would like to thank you.

I realize that there are things that I don`t understand. This may partly have to do with my limited understanding of the English language, but I practice learning by doing, so... and rely on the spel check.

About the knife:

A knife is a tool, as is the brain. Sharpening means making it fit for use.
Also the act of sharpening is a meditation period that will help to concentrate and focus on the act of using the knife / brain.

To be ready or punctual care.

Allan

Thanks, Allan:
Very good start point.
By searching of "sword", I found a poem...not a formal reply to this post.:
http://martincartoons.com/poem3.htm

SB,

"One picture mightier than ten thousand words; "
This line from the poem is true, though I have to say that I enjoy reading about painting.
When I am thatching and taking a brake I like to read about J. Sargent. I printed the notes about him and I dare say that words can paint, not to mention all the words in this forum.

Allan

[QUOTE=Allan Rahbek]
I enjoy reading about painting.

Yes, I also gained from Sargent notes. Mao said: "In his endeavour to win a war, a military strategist cannot overstep the limitations, however, he can and must strive for victory. The stage of action for a military strategist is built upon objective material conditions, but on that stage he can direct the performance of many a drama, full of sound and colour, power and grandeur."

How to use knife, or palette knife, or your painting skill, as your competitor does? This reminds me a painting about Mao. http://www.1930shanghai.com/items/26...tore.html#item

When we look at a cross section of a knife: if artist's ability is the apex of the triangle, i.e. an edge of a knife could be weared down. What are the two sides of that triangle, in figurative sense ( to sharpen on)?

What you need to sharpen the knife? You need iron, anvil and hammer or stone and water. I have probably misunderstood you here.

To learn from another artist implies your willingness to get close and think like him. Not to be like him, but gain some power and get on on your own. Sort of like when the spaceship uses the gravitation of the Moon to get to Mars.

Did you notice that Mao

[QUOTE=SB Wang,
cannot overstep the limitations.

In art we must also subordinate the limits of our choice.
When we have chosen a medium, say oils, everything must be said with oil paint. You express yourself in an oil world. I look at it through the oil glasses and understand it with my oil mind.
Or like H. C. Andersen says in The ugly Duckling "The world, says mother duck, is all the way out to the stone fence by the church yard."

The simpler mean that are used the stronger expression.

I feel often annoyed when I note the influence of reference photos used. That

Allan:
Van Long, an American writer, praised Denmark. I can see why now.

I rewrote my question: "When we look at a cross section of a knife: if artist's ability is the apex of the triangle, i.e. an edge of a knife could be worn down. What are the two sides of that triangle, in figurative sense ( to sharpen on)"?

The knife fill the gab between the mirror of the world and your minds eye.

If you come out with anything sharp from that confrontation, it may be art.

Of course it can be turned down and used for cutting, that be negative and contrary to art.

Allan

I may have been a little short in answering the above challenge.

Mirror of the world, means how the world present it self to us and how we perceive it. That is the one side of the triangle.
The other side is what we choose to pas on to our fellow human beings. That is the things that expresses our mind, seen with our minds eye.

If it comes out as art depends on how fine my instrument is tuned.

Allan

Allan:
Sword in Mao's poem:
http://www.iusb.edu/~journal/1999/Paper8.html

Towering aloft
Above the earth
Great Kunlun
You have witnessed all that was fairest
In the human world
As they fly across the sky, the three million dragons Of white jade
Freeze you with piercing cold
In the days of summer
Your melting torrents
Fill streams and rivers till they overflow
Changing men
Into fish and turtles
What man can pass judgment
On all the good and evil
You have done
These thousand autumns?
But today
I say to you, Kunlun
You don’t need your great height
You don’t need all that snow!
If I could lean on the sky
I would draw my sword
And cut you in three pieces
One I would send to Europe
One to America
And one we would keep in China.
Thus would a great peace
Reign through the world
For all the world would share our warmth and cold

Optimistic...Mao foresaw the future two decades earlier:
" Marxists are not fortune-tellers. They should, and indeed can, only indicate the general direction of future developments and changes; they should not and cannot fix the day and the hour in a mechanistic way."
"It is like a ship far out at sea whose mast-head can already be seen from the shore; it is like the morning sun in the east whose shimmering rays are visible from a high mountain top; it is like a child about to be born moving restlessly in its mother's womb".

On heroism:
"We...have the spirit to fight the enemy to the last drop of our blood, the determination to recover our lost territory by our own efforts, and the ability to stand on our own feet in the family of nations".

SB,

I am a little confused, again... I honestly can

SOG also shares with the brand name of SOG knife. It's a compliment to say our SOG artists are sharp edge of a majestic sword.
How to sharpen your knife?

SB,
I believe that everybody is sharpening there tools in the most effective way there is, namely by practising shape, edge and value in the tempo everyone feels that he/she can digest.

What this tool is meant for is not for me to say, because I don

Allan:
Very impressed by your enthusiasm from Scandinavia.
What I thought that two sides of a knife to sharpen on are: spirit and matter. There are many other terms in the similar meaning: Painting is combination of idea and material.etc.

Hi SB,

I don

Thanks, Allan!
I've learned a lot from you and everyone here.
Reading an article about the Long March by an American student, as if looking at a mirror, I've realized how difficult to paint a profound portrait. His paper is quite good but missed some key points. A blemish in otherwise perfect thing.
__________________
www.portraitartist.com/wang

"Pierce through blue sky without ruining the edge of a sword", another phrase in Mao's Long March poem. Mao praised the heroes, especially himself. For the sword, he struggled more than two decades, overcame so many hardship beyond our imagination.

"Sharpen a knife will not waste time for cutting firewood".
Waste not, want not.
There are two ways to dull your knife's edge: overuse or rust. "Rather exhaust than rust"? why not balance it well.