Notes from Chien Chung Wei's DVD
Chien Chung-Wei is a rising star in the watercolor world.
His wife, Jasmine Huang is also a superb watercolorist.
I recently got a hold of Chung-wei’s DVD and here are some my notes & observations from his Masterclass through the DVD. I highly recommend this DVD. There are much more in the DVD that I won’t share here Go buy the DVD and support the Artist please.
DVD's URL is here:
http://www.boutiquedesartistes.fr/dvd-master-class-aquarelle-sur-le-motif-avec-chien-chung-wei.html?___store=en&___from_store=fr
I recently got a hold of Chung-wei’s DVD and here are some my notes & observations from his Masterclass through the DVD. I highly recommend this DVD. There are much more in the DVD that I won’t share here Go buy the DVD and support the Artist please.
DVD's URL is here:
http://www.boutiquedesartistes.fr/dvd-master-class-aquarelle-sur-le-motif-avec-chien-chung-wei.html?___store=en&___from_store=fr
Notes from his DVD
- Only started plein-air 2 years ago. Developed his skills in-studio for the longest time.
- Mentioned that in-door techniques can complement Plein-air.
- Uber fast painter. He does this by pre-mixing a big mix of his paint (both warm /cool) before attempt. His painting movements makes me anxious. (laughs)
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| Mixing enough before he paints. He paints fast |
- His strength lies in design. Simplifying what’s in front. In short, he’s a highly effective painter.
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| Complete within 1-2 hours. |
- He terms the mid-tone area as the rainbow color zone ( he deploys the greatest ranges in color temperature shift here, I guess))
- Paints in limited palette. Does not hold green on his palette. Instead, his wells have more blues.
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| No greens but more blues |
- Design his composition and plan his road map extensively when he sketches with the pencil
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| "Taking the line out for a walk " - Chien Chung Wei |
- Block out the darks with his graphite first. He uses line weight to plan as well
- He emphasized that "the line is out for a walk" whenever he draws. This is his personal expression of finding rhythm, shapes and composition.
- He blocks out the mid-tone and the dark while reserving the light shapes. Typically, he completes the mid-tones and dark by means of pigment concentration. Very little usage of glazes. Rather, he allocates layering to the details. Quite similar to Alla-prima in oils. He reminded me of Ong Kim Seng's approach. Dark first.
- Switches brushes a lot. Typically paints with a bunch of them in his hands. He memtioned that smaller brushes are crucial for the darks (my guess- concentration of pigment)
- Very daring and confident with his scratches. Even brings out a palette knive and carve straight at the paper.
Visit his website for more of his beautiful work :) If you know mandarin, you can follow him on his facebook account. He regularly share interesting stories and philosophies behind his work.
