Summer Landscape Painting Course

The Essence of Chinese Landscape Painting

In Chinese art, landscape painting is known as “mountain-water painting” (山水画), reflecting a deep reverence for nature that has occupied the hearts of Chinese scholars for generations. Painters have long admired the majestic mountains and flowing waters, composing poetry to honor their eternal presence while acknowledging the fleeting nature of human existence. It was through the depiction of mountains and rivers that ancient Chinese philosophy began to take shape, as scholars and artists sought to unravel the mysteries of the universe.

Many of the great landscape painters were also poets, infusing their works with a profound Zen-like tranquility. These paintings transport the viewer into a world of ancient trees, distant mountains, drifting clouds, flowing rivers, and cascading waterfalls. In the midst of their quiet grandeur, we find a deep and absolute silence, allowing us to listen—not with our ears, but with our hearts. In appreciating these landscapes, we become one with the world, stepping into a realm where beauty and contemplation merge.

A Journey into Landscape Painting

In this crash course on Chinese landscape painting, I invite you to embark on a journey where poetry and art meet. The landscapes we create may not exist in reality, but they will be sanctuaries of peace and happiness. A lone figure, a boat drifting on calm waters—no worries, only the stillness of nature and the beauty of the moment.

Come find me in this tranquil place. I will be waiting for you.