The tutor will demonstrate the painting process of the chosen works and guide you through one or two similar styles and with face to face instruction and observing the tutor demonstrations, you will study and master some of the special performance techniques of Chinese painting.
Ma Yuan (about 1160-65 - 1225 CE) was born into a family of painters, becoming painter-in-residence to the Southern Song court in Hangzhou, as had his father, grandfather and great-grandfather before him. His son, Ma Lin, became painter-in-waiting. Ma Yuan was a favourite of the emperor Ningzong, who sometimes inscribed Ma’s paintings. He and three other painters of the Imperial Academy, Li Tang, Liu Songnian and Xia Gui, were later called 'the four artists of the Southern Song dynasty'.
Ma Yuan is best known for his artistic achievements in landscape painting. He learned from Li Tang, painting in ink and wash. He painted at all scales from large screens and hanging scrolls to album leaves and fans, depicting the majestic Southern China mountains and rivers.
Ma Yuan moved away from the panoramic composition which dominated in the Northern Song. He created simple compositions, preferring to paint only on one side or one corner of the picture, showing the wide space from dramatic pines to the pale distant mountains, sometimes filled with dense mist. Chinese art historians called this 'Ma's side-horn' or 'Ma's half', and often praised his unique style of painting.
He was also good at painting figures with a dignified, elegant air, and flowers and birds in their natural environment. His figures included Buddhist and Taoist characters, aristocrats, literati, fishermen, farmers, and so on.
Ma Yuan's artistic achievements are very high, with a great influence on later Chinese and Japanese artists.
 

• Large, medium and small Chinese brushes (at least one of each)
• A Bottle of Chinese Ink
• A box of Chinese colour (or, Gamboge, Indigo, Burnt Sienna, Vermillion Carmine, Rouge tint and White colours, each one PCS)
• Some rice paper (raw Xuan paper)
• Felt or old blanket (about 1m2)
• 2 or 3 white dishes to be used as palettes

The tutor will have some materials available for purchase if required:
Ink: a bottle for £4;
Chinese colour: each tube of 12ml for £1; a set of 12 colours for £8.00;
Chinese brushes different size from £2 - £10;
Suitable paper for the course (e.g. Rice paper 70cm x 135cm for £1.50)