A companion to Oriental Flowers, which illuminates tips and techniques for painting highly revered plants and flowers in the classical brush painting style, Oriental Birds focuses on the other most esteemed denizens of classical Chinese painting: birds. While Western painting historically put more emphasis on form, structure, color and perspective, the Eastern tradition concerns itself more with the essence of what is being depicted, attempting to capture the spirit of the subject through seemingly simple gestural lines and a more muted color palette. Features the classical Chinese style of such Qing Dynasty masters as Yun Shouping and Yu Zhi as well as that of Japanese woodblock prints (or Ukiyo-e) of the 17th and 18th centuries. Includes step-by-step instructions on creating 16 unique paintings of birds situated amongst traditional plants and flowers.