An artwork is much more than just a combination of brush strokes and colors; it serves as a profound accumulation of the artist’s emotions, observations, and life experiences. ZHANG QICHENG, a distinguished advisor and instructor at the Lingnan Painting Society in Los Angeles, has devoted over fifty years to his craft. Since he was introduced to Chinese painting at the age of fourteen, he has learned from renowned figures of the Lingnan school, including LIANG SHAOHANG and HUANG LEISHENG. After moving to the United States, he continued to create and teach, hoping to pass on the innovative spirit and traditional essence of the Lingnan painting style to future generations through art education.
On November 7 and 8, the Los Angeles Lingnan Painting Society held a joint exhibition featuring works by both ZHANG QICHENG and his students. The event showcased a total of 58 artworks that demonstrate the cumulative creativity of both ZHANG and his pupils over the years. ZHANG noted that the pieces displayed at the exhibition represent a diverse array of subjects, including flowers, birds, animals, and human figures. This diversity effectively embodies the Lingnan painting school’s artistic features, which emphasize realism and the integration of both Chinese and Western techniques.
Reflecting on his journey, ZHANG QICHENG shared how he developed an unbreakable bond with painting at the age of fourteen. After starting his artistic journey under the guidance of a Lingnan painting teacher, he has remained devoted to the art for half a century. He studied for about three years with LIANG SHAOHANG, which laid a solid foundation for his skills. While studying in Taiwan, he fortuitously met HUANG LEISHENG, who had come from San Francisco, and spent roughly two years honing his skills with him, deepening his understanding of the Lingnan school’s techniques and creative philosophies.
The Lingnan school of painting is represented by artists such as GAO JIANFU, GAO QIFENG, and CHEN SHUREN, collectively known as the “Two Gaos and One Chen.” This school advocates for the blending of traditional Chinese painting with Western artistic techniques. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining the ink’s nuances and poetic meanings while placing significant value on life drawing, form, and composition, culminating in a unique style characterized by a strong spirit of innovation.
When discussing the differences between Chinese and Western painting, ZHANG pointed out that one of the core characteristics of the Lingnan school is its amalgamation of Eastern and Western artistic concepts. Chinese painting not only focuses on brushwork but also heavily emphasizes the fluid use of line and brush techniques. Furthermore, life drawing and observing nature are essential foundations for the creative process.
ZHANG stressed that painters should not rely solely on memory to create; rather, they need to keenly observe real-life subjects. This involves recording what they see through sketching and life drawing before transforming their observations and personal feelings into artwork. In the past, artists frequently visited zoos to observe animal behaviors or would sketch nature during their travels. Today, advancements in technology allow artists to closely study the micro-behaviors and lifestyles of animals through videos available online, serving as a valuable creative reference.
According to ZHANG, painting is not merely about transcribing the visible world onto paper; it requires a holistic consideration of the surrounding environment, composition, and overall atmosphere to convey a complete artistic expression and vitality within the artwork.
Speaking about his creative process, ZHANG mentioned that there are no strict hours dedicated to painting. Sometimes a piece can take several days to complete, yet it does not involve working at the easel for eight consecutive hours every day. He typically begins by conceptualizing the overall composition, taking breaks after finishing sections to handle daily life, and returning to the canvas once new inspiration arises. The time required for different subjects varies: capturing intricate details of an animal’s fur and texture demands considerable patience, while works with simpler compositions may be completed more swiftly.
In ZHANG’s view, artistic creation is a long-term cumulative process. Beyond mastering techniques, it is crucial to cultivate a keen observational ability to transform experiences, sights, and sentiments from daily life into a rich artistic language.
ZHANG QICHENG’s influence extends across various cities due to his art teaching endeavors. After leaving Taiwan, he moved to Paris, where he taught painting with cultural and artistic institutions linked to the city government and actively participated in local art exhibitions. Eventually, he relocated to the United States, living and teaching in Northern California and Texas before settling in Los Angeles approximately eight years ago.
Throughout the years, he has not only dedicated himself to personal artistic endeavors but has also fully immersed himself in art education, aspiring to introduce more people abroad to the elegance of Chinese ink painting and the charm of the Lingnan school. Reflecting on the profound impact of art on individuals, ZHANG emotionally conveyed that art possesses unique qualities that can cultivate one’s character and express emotions. When people feel anxious or down, creating art can help redirect their thoughts and channel their inner turmoil onto the canvas.
He humorously remarked that if he ever feels particularly frustrated, he might create a piece titled “QU YUAN Pulling Out His Sword,” vividly expressing his emotions through powerful lines and brushwork. For him, painting is not merely a skill; it is a pathway for self-regulation and a form of emotional catharsis.
For the younger generation interested in learning Chinese painting, ZHANG advised starting to cultivate interest from early childhood, around ten years old, to gradually explore different art techniques while building a foundational understanding of three-dimensionality, perspective, and form. He emphasized that the Lingnan school has distinctive brushwork and representation systems that require dedicated practice to master, rather than being casually applied. Traditional artists have spent extensive time exploring and practicing to distill complex painting principles into systematic brush techniques. Aspiring learners should maintain their passion for art, while also diligently practicing their fundamentals and deeply grasping the principles and cultural context behind traditional techniques.
ZHANG QICHENG hopes that through the teaching and exhibitions of the Los Angeles Lingnan Painting Society, more overseas Chinese and local communities can appreciate traditional Chinese painting, fostering continuous innovation in the intersection of Eastern and Western cultures so that the artistic spirit of the Lingnan school can take root abroad and flourish perpetually.