Danny Chen's Gallery

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Art Instructor Danny HL Chen

Art Tips Q & A

Question:

Why do we use a blanket under Xuan paper when doing Chinese brush paintings?

Easy Repositioning Even drying effect Avoid the mess Reflection of true colour

Chinese Brush Painting is a specialized painting technique that has evolved over centuries. The equipment used is often simple. However, the degree of skill required to produce a successful painting sets this technique apart from many others. Literally every piece of equipment, the supplies used and your technique have a huge impact upon the finished product.
Why do we use a blanket in Chinese Brush Painting? In this discussion, we will assume that we are using unsized Xuan paper. Xuan paper is a very delicate paper with a fairly smooth surface and a weight almost as light as a piece of tissue paper. Therefore, the main function of a blanket is providing support to the Xuan paper. It is a simple and effective solution that brings the following advantages to our painting:

Easy Repositioning
If the paper is laying directly on the surface of a table, the paper becomes fixed to the table by the surface tension of the water, it becomes very difficult to lift the paper for repositioning. By placing the paper on top of a blanket, we are free to move the paper to any suitable painting position.

Smooth Transition Of Colour With Even Drying Effect
There can be a pooling of the paint where the paper is in direct contact with the table, which will contribute to uneven drying and the possibility of producing a distinct stain around the puddle. With the support of the blanket, the drying is more even and undesirable watermarks can be avoided.

Avoid The Mess
Any pigment that seeps from the paper onto the table will leave residual paint on the table. This paint will eventually smear to other parts of the paper when the dampened paper contacts the table, creating unwanted artifact.

Reflection Of True Colour
A blanket that is white or off-white allows for better judgment of colour. Cotton is preferable but a blanket that is a blend of polyester and acrylic works equally well and is less expensive. I recommend that my students buy a baby crib-sized blanket, which provides better support to the paper without too much bulk.

If you have questions about art or my paintings, you are invited to write to me at info@chensgallery.com