Unlike the western paintings, most of the Chinese Traditional Paintings use only black ink. Artists add different amounts of water to the black ink to create different gray. The color gray can replace almost all the other colors. The different functions of gray used in the paintings will be shown in this gallery.
Frogs in the pond, Ding Yanyong, 1977, From the collection of: Hong Kong Museum of Art
A gentle gradient gray can make the frogs seem lively. The light gray here is half-transparent. So the frogs seem very light and as if they could jump up.
Violet harmony in snow, Ho Choi-on, 1995, From the collection of: Hong Kong Museum of Art
The whole painting is misty. The only color used is gray. The artist use similar colors to create a foggy scene. The mountain is covered by snow. The sun hasn't risen . It create a harmony atmosphere
Monkeys, Chao Shao-an, 1960/1970, From the collection of: Hong Kong Heritage Museum
The painter combine gray with brown and make the money look fuzzy. The background appears as an uneven patch of gray to stress the monkeys.
Portrait of Lu Xun, Tan Swie Hian, 1993, From the collection of: National Heritage Board, Singapore
In this painting the artist did't add water to the ink. So the color seems dull and heavy. Since the character is a serious writer who is famous for a sharp tongue. So this color can best describe him
Two swallows, Wu Guanzhong, 1981, From the collection of: Hong Kong Museum of Art
Again the picture is all gray. Look at the below part, the artist combine dark gray and light gray to make the reelection seems real. Combine different grays can usually create special visual effects.
Landscape in the style of Ni Zan, (1301-1374), Bada Shanren, 1692/1696, From the collection of: National Gallery of Victoria
All the grays used in this picture are light gray. However, the color of water here is darker than that in other paintings. That make the painting look rough.
Once upon a time, Fung Wing-kee, Raymond, 2009, From the collection of: Hong Kong Museum of Art
Since the grays are all different, the mountains can be easily recognized. It is very simple and neat because only one color is used. This kind of skill is used to show a lonely feeling.
Boating on a Willow Stream, Shitao, 1642/1707, From the collection of: Hong Kong Museum of Art
Usually dark gray is used to show objects nearby, and light gray are used when objects far away. In this painting the color light gray is full of water and flows fluently, making the scene delicate
Two birds on the fan palm tree, Chao Shao-an, 1967, From the collection of: Hong Kong Heritage Museum
In this kind of paintings, dark gray is used to create old leaves while light gray is used to create young leaves. Add a little red into gray can make the stem seem fresh.
The Fuchun Mountians, Wang Yuanqi, 1699, From the collection of: National Gallery of Victoria
Unlike the other paintings, the gray line here is thin and clear. There are no color areas. So the painting looks delicate.
Landscape in the style of Wang Meng, (c. 1309-1385), Bada Shanren, 1692/1696, From the collection of: National Gallery of Victoria
Some of the mountain are drawn by thin dark gray lines, while some of the mountains are by light gray blocks. This can help make the scene have very deep depth.
Herdboy and ox, Li Keran, 1980, From the collection of: Hong Kong Museum of Art
The ox is light grey. There are no dark colors, not contracts in the painting. Though gray is not a color let people feel happy and excited, it makes people relaxed and quite.
Wild goose, Chao Shao-an, 1927, From the collection of: Hong Kong Heritage Museum
The color of leaves here are translucent because the leaves are very thin. There is little ink used in the painting to create a lonely atmosphere. The bird is in very dark color to show its tenacity
Bamboo under Spring Rain, Xia Chang, Chinese, 1388 - 1470, Tianshun Period (1457-1464), c. 1460, From the collection of: Philadelphia Museum of Art
The lightest gray part is the spring. To create this color artist needs to add a lot water. That why the spring seem so real and people can even feel the water flows.
Dreamy Lotus, Wo Yue-kee, Henry, 2003, From the collection of: Hong Kong Museum of Art
Gray here help make the leaves seem fresh, and make the painting dim and not clear. As the title said, it is like a sweet dream where there are lotus in the drizzle.
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This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture.
