Level 3: Chrysanthemum - the Warrior

From ancient times, artists in East Asia have always had a strong interest in cultivating, observing and painting chrysanthemums (“菊”). Literati and scholars treated the subtle fragrance of the chrysanthemum as a special subject of painting. They excelled in expressing its purity. In their works it may be perceived that the chrysanthemum is “defiant of frost and triumphant in autumn”, a saying that expresses the essence (ch’i) of its character. In painting the chrysanthemum, this idea must be clearly understood so that the transmittal of it originates in the heart and passes through the wrist to the brush. As the third painting topic of the “Four Gentlemen”, the Chrysanthemum brush journey will cover centred and side brush strokes and also learn the outlined stroke techniques. We will explore mindfulness, awareness and presence through mindful breathing, body posture and meditative brush practice as we learn to paint Chrysanthemum (“菊”) .