A Lesson for Artful Living
I remember my studies of traditional Chinese painting, I remember Professor Lee,
a small woman from China who spoke little English, inspired me.
She taught me painting techniques without many words exchanged between us.
I watched and followed her out into nature to observe and to paint with a new
spirit. She inspired me to be a better teacher in her unassuming and
humble way. I appreciated her Eastern influence and I believed it
improved my perspective of life and the natural world. The more
abstract and calligraphic use of a brush was visually pleasing to me.
I learned more about her culture and felt a peace when I painted.
The experimental and Zen-like way of seeing enriches me today. I
observed her humility, courage, and wisdom. From her, I learned
the ancient canons of Chinese painting. She could not translate the
canons exactly, but much of what she revealed to me through them
I understood. I appreciated all she shared with me in only two years.
Three decades later, the canons have stayed with me and have grown
in meaning, presenting me with applications for better living.
Here are the canons:
~ The first canon encourages spiritual quality in the art one
produces. Applied to life, this can mean one’s life work must be
passionate.
~ The second canon encourages the artist to see basic lines and
value simplicity. Applied to life, I must see clearly the basic line
between right and wrong. It can be blurred in legalistic ways, but
remains clear in the word of God.
~ The third canon relates to confidence and reminds us that
creative strength and confidence flow out of the preceding canons.
If the first two are not followed, clear decisions and one’s potential
as a leader is at risk.
~ The fourth canon requires the artist to use color in personal
and expressive ways. This canon discourages imitation of nature. It
encourages a personal response to nature. In art and life, the value
of a color (personality of an individual) is not the color itself, but its
relationship to other colors.
~ The fifth canon encourages regard for the whole. In nature,
divine proportion must be respected. In life, we learn the value of
the team as opposed to individual stardom.
~ The sixth and final canon flows back to the first—circles are
harmonious and learning comes in cycles. This canon encourages
the art student to appreciate the work of a master. This work may be
emulated as tribute, but a true artist cannot be a copyist and unduly
influenced by another’s work. Admiration and appreciation of the
masters contributes to the student’s aesthetic. This canon starts a
new cycle of spirited learning.
I remember my studies of traditional Chinese painting, I remember Professor Lee,
a small woman from China who spoke little English, inspired me.
She taught me painting techniques without many words exchanged between us.
I watched and followed her out into nature to observe and to paint with a new
spirit. She inspired me to be a better teacher in her unassuming and
humble way. I appreciated her Eastern influence and I believed it
improved my perspective of life and the natural world. The more
abstract and calligraphic use of a brush was visually pleasing to me.
I learned more about her culture and felt a peace when I painted.
The experimental and Zen-like way of seeing enriches me today. I
observed her humility, courage, and wisdom. From her, I learned
the ancient canons of Chinese painting. She could not translate the
canons exactly, but much of what she revealed to me through them
I understood. I appreciated all she shared with me in only two years.
Three decades later, the canons have stayed with me and have grown
in meaning, presenting me with applications for better living.
Here are the canons:
~ The first canon encourages spiritual quality in the art one
produces. Applied to life, this can mean one’s life work must be
passionate.
~ The second canon encourages the artist to see basic lines and
value simplicity. Applied to life, I must see clearly the basic line
between right and wrong. It can be blurred in legalistic ways, but
remains clear in the word of God.
~ The third canon relates to confidence and reminds us that
creative strength and confidence flow out of the preceding canons.
If the first two are not followed, clear decisions and one’s potential
as a leader is at risk.
~ The fourth canon requires the artist to use color in personal
and expressive ways. This canon discourages imitation of nature. It
encourages a personal response to nature. In art and life, the value
of a color (personality of an individual) is not the color itself, but its
relationship to other colors.
~ The fifth canon encourages regard for the whole. In nature,
divine proportion must be respected. In life, we learn the value of
the team as opposed to individual stardom.
~ The sixth and final canon flows back to the first—circles are
harmonious and learning comes in cycles. This canon encourages
the art student to appreciate the work of a master. This work may be
emulated as tribute, but a true artist cannot be a copyist and unduly
influenced by another’s work. Admiration and appreciation of the
masters contributes to the student’s aesthetic. This canon starts a
new cycle of spirited learning.
