Fan Painting Workshop 2025

Event Date: Jul 26, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

About the event

In this workshop, you will have the opportunity to learn and experience the art of creating fan paintings in traditional Chinese style. As a student, you’ll explore common subjects depicted in fan paintings: landscape, flowers, birds, and more, as well as learning their symbolic meanings in Chinese Culture. The instructor will guide you through the techniques of Chinese brushwork as you will learn to manipulate each brush stroke to achieve various forms - from thin delicate lines to bold and dynamic strokes. It’s as if you brought life to paper.

The principles of composition will be another tactic you will explore as you learn to create balance and harmony by using the “three perfections”: Painting, Poetry, and Calligraphy. The instructor will provide insight about traditional Chinese aesthetics while guiding you in arranging your subjects on the fan. Color also holds an essential part in fan painting. Using ink and color, you will create depth in your art.

The instructor will demonstrate different techniques that will achieve effects, such as graduation and texture. Once you have learned these techniques, you’ll have the opportunity to add calligraphy to your fan. You’ll learn basic Chinese calligraphy and create meaningful poems or write your name with traditional Chinese brush and ink. By the end, you will have created a one-of-a-kind fan painting that reflects the beauty and spirit of traditional Chinese art. You will be taking home a stunning artwork you have created, along with the understanding of Chinese culture and artistic techniques that have gone through generation after generation.

Accessibility:

The Heritage Museum of Asian Art's Entrance is on West 35th Street. Take the elevator to the third floor and turn right to the Museum Reception Desk. Accessible and standard toilets are located on the same floor. Free parking space is available next to the museum via West 35th Street.

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