The act of creating paintings using the methods and materials of the traditional Chinese artist is a wonderful experience.

The Six Qualities of Painting

• To display brushstroke power with good brushwork control

• To posses sturdy simplicity with refinement of true talent

• To possess delicacy of skill with vigor of execution.

• To exhibit originality, even to the point of eccentricity, without violating the li(the principles or essence) of things.

• In rendering space by leaving the silk or paper untouched, to be able nevertheless to convey nuances of tone.

• On the flatness of the picture plane, to achieve depth and space.

"Lu Ch'ang", quoted from an early XI-century work of biographies of painters of the Five Dynasties and Northern Sung Periods.

The Stone Seals

The seals can be carved in stone. It can contain a name, poetical saying, a design or symbol which has a connection with the painting. The seals are pressed into a pot or tin of cinnebar paste, a scarlet red color, and are impressed onto the painting. The paste contains mercuric oxide, ground silk and oils. It required a careful stamp as it is rather permanent. When using red seal on a monochrome painting, it is said to be "adding the eye to the dragon".

(notes are from: http://www.asia-art.net/chinese_tech_brush.html)