Chinese Fish Painting

Fish

The Chinese traditionally paint fish swimming in water. If an artist caught the twists and turns of fish swimming among the water weeds, then the painting would be most prized by connoisseurs.

The carp is the most frequently depicted fish in Chinese art and as it was believed that it could transform itself into a dragon by leaping the Lungment Falls on the Yellow River, it was regarded as a symbol of literary eminence, or it was used to symbolize the passing examinations with distinction. He carp appears on ceramic vases, in lapis-lazuli and jade carvings, as well as in many paintings. Because of its scaly armour, It is regarded as symbol of martial attributes, and as it struggles against the current it is also a representative emblem of perseverance.

A pair of fish together are symbolic of marriage and of harmony, while groups of fish swimming gracefully with waters’ flow can be conceived as a visual demonstration of the Chinese way of thinking, figuring both in Taoist and Buddhist philosophy. The fish signifies freedom from restraints, moving easily through the water in any direction. The ‘flow’ of fish in water can be paralleled by man’s existence in the ever-changing natural world.

Carp can live to 60 years’ old and even up to 100. They are often kept as pets and can adjust to different water temperatures and climates. They are easily fed with vegetables, noodles or cooked rice.

Goldfish are well known for their bubbly eyes and pearly or metallic scales. There are 1,000 years of documented tradition in China showing goldfish being kept and displayed in wide-topped ceramic bowls. Because of the way they were kept, they have eyes which look upwards, and decorations known as ‘hoods’ and curved fins which are only seen at their best from above.

The Chinese list 9 types of fish: carp, pompadour fish, mandarin fish, goldfish, firewater goby, flying fish, small fish, shrimps or crayfish, crabs.

General Order for Painting Fish

Usually fish should be painted beginning with the head, then the body, and finally the tail.

As an overall, general description of the method, it is suggested that the head (month, eyes, gill covers) are first painted in light, diluted ink (stage 1), and then thick dark ink used on the forehead and eyes, (stage 2). The body can be painted with a double-loaded brush tipped with black ink in bold brush strokes which suggest the light and shade of the body, (stage 3). Finally, in (stage 4), scales are added while the body strokes is still wet, and fins and tail, in medium ink, put the finishing touches to the fish.