Mastering Traditional Chinese Bird Painting: Myna on Withered Tree

Brief Introduction:

Among Song Dynasty paintings, "Myna Bird on a Withered Tree" is an exceptionally skillful work depicting a bird and tree branches. The way the withered leaves are painted, especially, is very rare in ancient works. The use of the "water pooling" technique for the edges of the insect-eaten parts of the withered leaves is also extremely uncommon in old paintings. Although the lines used for the tree trunk in this painting are thin, the local variations are still very subtle, and the pauses and turns in the lines show a strong calligraphic brush intention. The color distribution of light, gray, and dark on the myna bird is perfectly balanced. The claws are rendered using the "split-armor powder piling method," which is very effective in conveying the texture of scales. The eyes are simply depicted with a single dark ink dot, without blending the pupil's luster or adding highlights. This is one of the characteristics of ancient Chinese bird paintings, differing from the "glassy" appearance popular in contemporary painting, and it possesses a unique decorative charm.

Step One:

Use dark ink to outline the leaves and branches. The main veins of the leaves should be drawn with smooth, precise lines, while the withered edges can be a bit more casual. For the old branches, use a flexible brushstroke according to the structural relationships. Pay close attention to the rhythm and pauses of the brushwork at the knots and scars. While outlining, you can also gently rub along the texture of the tree bark. Use dark ink to outline the myna bird and medium ink for the bird's claws. Most of the bird's body should be outlined with dashed lines, paying attention to the grouping of feathers and ensuring the lines start and end softly to better represent the fluffy texture of the feathers. The lines for the beak and claws, however, must be firm and strong.

Step Two:

For the background, use a wash brush to apply a light ochre-ink color (vermilion + ink + plenty of water).

For the front side of the leaves, apply a flat wash of light ochre-red (ochre + a little carmine). For the back side of the leaves, you can use a flat wash of light ochre-red with a hint of orange-yellow.

Apply a flat wash of pink (carmine + white powder) to the bird's beak, ochre-red to the claws, and light yellow to the eyes.

Apply overall washes of different shades of ink to the front and back of the leaves, branches, and the myna bird's body.

Step Three:

Use dark ink to shade the bird's feathers. For the chest and belly, use the "high-lighting wash" technique, paying attention to the feather groupings at the edges and ensuring they blend naturally with the background. For the plate-like feathers on the back, apply a flat wash of dark ink. For the bird's beak, apply light yellow, washing from the tip towards the base. Apply a flat wash of white powder to the claw tips and white markings. For the eye sockets, use light ink, shading from the edges towards the center.

Continue to shade the leaves and branches with medium ink.

Step Four:

After shading the front of the leaves, use ochre-ink to dot the insect spots. This process should be done with a relaxed and casual hand, dabbing and washing simultaneously for a natural effect. After shading the back of the leaves, apply a light orange-yellow wash (gamboge + vermilion) from the edges towards the center. On the branches, dot small moss spots with dark ink, then re-dot with malachite green while still wet. Some lines on the branches can be re-outlined with relatively dry medium ink. For the leaf stems, the base of the back leaves, and the tender shoots, shade with light greenish-ink (grass green + a little ink), then apply a wash of light malachite green, and finally re-outline with carmine.

Re-apply light yellow to the bird's beak, then re-outline the lines with carmine. Dot the eyes with dark ink. For the scales on the claws, use light yellow with the "powder piling" technique. For the protrusions on the pads under the claws, use round dots of light yellow with the "powder piling" technique. Shade the claw tips with light azurite, and re-outline some areas with medium ink. After an overall light ink wash on the bird's body, use dark ink for feathering. When feathering, pay attention to natural transitions between areas. The feathers on the back should be smooth, the chest should be flat, and the belly should be soft. For the flight feathers, outline the veins with dark ink, then feather with dark ink, making the feathers strong and upright. Dot the bird's tongue with light ochre-red.