Bamboo - Step by Step

Chinese brush painter Jane Evans learned some new techniques from artist Qu Lei Lei and incorporated them into her own style to create more expressive bamboo.

Stem

For the basic blunt bone stroke that forms each section of the stem, pick up thick ink, not too wet, from the stone along the side of the brush head only. Place the tip of the brush onto the paper and press down lightly. Then move the brush upwards along its bristles, working in the direction the plant grows. pausing and pressing slightly before lifting off at the end of the stroke. The last stroke should be tapered. The hit and miss effect, known as "flying white" helps to give shape and texture. Reinforce the joints with thick black ink. Carry the line slightly outside the stem and reinforce one side by flicking the stroke.

Leaves

Use a large orchid and bamboo brush. Remember leaves seen side-on will appear narrower and immature leaves will tend to be smaller. To paint each cluster, fill the brush with liquid black ink and taper the tip on the paper then immediately reverse it.
Without slackening speed, lower the brush gradually onto the paper, then smoothly taper it off again. Caress the paper rather  than 'snatching' at the stroke. Adding wet to wet enhances the vigour and liveliness of the painting, but always paint light leaves after the dark ones to allow the dark ones to blur in places. If you put dark leaves on top of light ones, everything would run into an amorphous blob.
Once the leaves are finished join on stray clusters with extra side stems, which always grow from a joint.

Remember
"The Chinese consider it a compliment to describe a painting as chuo or awkward. They do not admire paintings that are chiao - dextrous and clever, but lacking in feeling"