Two most important techniques of Chinese painting are Gongbi (工筆) and Xieyi (寫意). Gongbi is a realistic technique using highly detailed brushstrokes that delimits details precisely and without independent or expressive variation. Xieyi is a freehand brushwork which privileges the spontaneity of the line to express the artist’s idea and spirit of the beings. Both techniques require lots of different brush maneuvering techniques to bring out the atmosphere and rhythm of the paintings.
The paper being used are Xuan paper, which is also known as rice paper, and made of indigenous plant materials such as bamboo, mulberry bark…,etc. Paper for painting Gongbi (工筆) is Matured Xuan paper and for painting Xieyi (寫意) is Raw Xuan paper.
Some of Fanny’s paintings are using Gongbi method, and some using Xieyi with Chinese watercolours, ink and mixed medium to paint in landscapes, birds, trees, flowers. She has been using spontaneous style painting to create semi-abstract effect to capture the essence of flowers, birds and trees, and also detailed style painting which is to start with outlining the objects with ink, then filling outlines, also retain detail and realisticness of objects. Some of the paintings with the combination of these two methods are more exciting and challenging and trying to push the boundaries from the conventional Chinese watercolor painting.
Fanny Ip was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to Canada in 1992. Throughout her life, she has been always fascinated with Chinese Watercolor painting. The interest was cultivated during her childhood years, however she did not have an opportunity to pursue this hobby further during her working years. Not until settling down in Richmond, she rekindled the passion to express her impression of this beautiful province through her art.
Fanny expresses her creativity through Chinese watercolor on rice paper. As an artist, she has always been inspired by nature. She depicts the colors, rhythms and atmospheres of flora, birds and landscape from her experiences. Flowers and birds are the primary subjects which she uses in her artwork to create a harmonious nature, in order to raise awareness of the threat to birds and flowers caused by human displacement of their natural habitats.
Fanny’s paintings were exhibited and showcased at Asia Invitation Art Exhibition in Seoul, South Korea; the Chinese Canadian Artists Federation in Vancouver; the Richmond Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Club; Richmond Art Gallery; Burnaby Art Gallery; Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver; South Delta Artists Guild; and North Vancouver Arts. She is an Active Member of Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver.
