Product Review

The teaching and illustrations in this book exemplify the Oriental version of balance between the object being portrayed in a painting and the surrounding space. The artist, whether brand new, or professional, will find much to value in this clearly written tutorial on the subjects Edythe Newbourne has described here.

You will find three Basic Categories of Chinese painting in this book; Flowers, Birds, Bamboo exemplified by instruction on painting Bamboo, Plum, Orchid, Mums, Lily, Iris, Lotus, Rose and varied species of Birds.

These include what are known in the Chinese Art field as the Four Gentlemen or Four Paragons, Bamboo, Orchid, Mums and Plum!

There are five remaining Basics: Landscape, Animals and Fruits and Vegetables, Human figures, Buildings, Dragons and Fish. These will be forthcoming as tutorials as Edythe works at leaving a heritage of her 60 years experience and knowledge.

In this book technique for painting each subject is described and illustrated in detail. These are accompanied by a listing of materials needed, from brush to paint.

In executing Paintings in the Chinese brush style you, the artist, are as much of an impressionist (feeling free to omit objects not essential to your ideas) as you wish, or as realistically as you desire. Practitioners work from memory in their minds eye. As, of scenes, events, objects, happenings, in capturing the essence of a painting.


Edythe has focused on the objective of allowing an artist to express the characteristics of the subject. To employ the freedom to use space in placement and backgrounds. The idea is to capture the spirit of the image or idea in painting from a mental image rather than producing an exact copy.


The Chinese have a saying “The Ink sings, The Brush dances”. With a few expressive brush strokes you can paint graceful bamboo, flowing orchids, beautiful iris, stately mums and lively song birds.

You will enjoy the experience.