“Ferrying the Xia River” is an ink-and-wash painting created in 1993. Although black ink is used extensively, the brush strokes contain the essence of the art of painting and calligraphy. Even though the only color used is black from top to bottom, the aspects of farness and nearness are clearly distinguishable. A top artist, Mr. Huang Binhong, said “Black ink is all around, as extensive as heaven and earth. The paper of a painting can unfurl thousands of mountains. Created with ease in less than a few days, this work was actually born from nearly one hundred years of wielding the brush.” This painting has a rich layered look. Within the thick black ink lies elegance. It is an excellently conceived and interesting image. In this leisurely and carefree setting, sounds echo from thatched cottages amid mountains to skiffs on the water and vice-versa. This remarkable work with an exceptional style and scholarly air is one of the painting in the “Fanjuan” style and was created using the center brush-tip technique.
The “Fanjuan” style Numerous strokes of the brush reveal an air of scholarliness. Although a myriad of brush strokes are applied, there is no sense of disorder; rather, artistic talent based on profound and extensive knowledge is expressed.
