Painting Collaboration
Andrew Swarbrick X Dong Dong Chou
"A Merging of Diverse Skills"
An oil painting collaboration is a wonderful endeavor that brings together the talents and perspectives of two or more artists. The process begins with an exchange of ideas, where each participant contributes their unique vision and concepts. As the project takes shape, artists must navigate the delicate balance of harmonizing their styles and techniques.
The beauty of collaboration lies in the merging of diverse skills, as each artist brings their own strengths to the canvas. Together, they explore new artistic territories and embrace the unexpected outcomes that arise from the fusion of their creative energies. The final result is a rich tapestry of colors, textures, and emotions, a testament to the power of collaboration in oil painting.
XiaoDong Zhou aka Dong Dong Chou
I studied Chinese traditional Gongbi. When you are doing Gongbi, you cannot hustle. There are a lot of principles in the traditional paintings. For example, a lot of old masters would wash their hands and bodies thoroughly before painting. The habit does not exist anymore, of course. You need to be very calm and quiet while making Gongbi because you are using brushes and they are soft.
You need to slowly feel the bounce of the brush against paper. This is the basic practice for Gongbi. I also like to observe everything in life. Those special things, like special shapes or objects, will be integrated into my paintings according to my subjective view. The structure as well as the movement of light and shadow should also be taken into consideration.
As a painter, you need to control the source of light. Without this ability, you can only create diagrams. Paintings represent spirits, which come from within and flow with your minds. You should not restrict your minds otherwise vou will not be able to create a piece of art. I tried different subjects, such as dragon, fish, and flower.
All the paintings are my attempts to improve.
Collaboration - Andrew Swarbrick & Dong Dong Chou (China)
March 2012
LHP Studio, Christchurch, New Zealand
