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Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
The Book of Orchid is an instructional art book written by I-Hsiung Ju, who was a Professor Emeritus at Washington & Lee University before his retirement and the founder of the Art Farm Gallery where he continued to teach the art of Chinese painting. This book follows from his introductory work, The Book of Bamboo, which instructs the new student in the basics of brushwork, the selection of inkstone, brush and other materials, and the proper ways to hold a brush. These two books and the others that follow introduce the Four Gentlemen of Chinese art: bamboo, orchid, chrysanthemum and plum; the philosophy and history of the tradition of scholars whose paintings were 'written'; and the rules a beginner artist must follow to become a proficient performer. In The Book of Orchid, the aspiring artist learns the basic rules and techniques to enable him/her to produce their own orchid paintings.
It's been a few years since I last attempted a watercolor painting or even did some pen and ink sketches, but Professor I-Hsiung Ju, through his instructional art book, The Book of Orchid, has reignited my enthusiasm and given me a new artistic direction to explore. I've long been fascinated by Chinese paintings and wondered just what it would take to learn the rules behind this form of artistic expression. As I began to read the author's historical introduction, I realized just how much there was to learn about Chinese painting and how different it is to Western artistic traditions. The Professor's approach to instruction is superb, and his writing style is conversational and flowing. I soon started looking online for the proper materials and paper, and began practicing strokes in the air as I read each lesson. I'm now planning on starting with The Book of Bamboo as suggested, but am looking forward to progressing to the techniques and practices covered in this book. The Book of Orchid is most highly recommended.
