Gongbi Painting Workshop: Dragonfly on a Lotus Bud
Instructor: Victoria Li
Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM (PT)
Format: Live, interactive Zoom session (recorded with lifetime access)
Level: All levels welcome

Join us for a special session in our monthly Gongbi series as we explore the intricate world of insects. For the first time, Victoria will guide students through the delicate art of painting a dragonfly perched upon a budding lotus.

The dragonfly and lotus have long been cherished subjects in Chinese literati art and literature. This workshop will focus on the refined techniques of Gongbi (meticulous brushwork), honoring the tradition of masters like Qi Baishi, who famously balanced fine, detailed insect studies with a loose, expressive (Xieyi) natural environment.

Whether you are looking to master the precision of insect anatomy or learn the harmony of blending meticulous details with poetic surroundings, this class offers a unique opportunity to refine your brush control and artistic vision.

What you'll learn:

• Step-by-step guidance on capturing the delicate structure of a dragonfly.
• Techniques for layering washes to bring the lotus bud to life.
• Balancing fine-line detail with balanced, atmospheric composition.
• Calligraphic finishing: Complete your painting by writing the four-character poetic inscription 荷塘小憩 ("A Brief Rest at the Lotus Pond") and placing your personal seal to unify painting and calligraphy. Victoria will teach four optional calligraphy styles for this inscription — standard (楷书), walking (行书), running (草书), and clerical (隶书) — so you can choose the style that suits you.

To help you focus fully on brushwork and color during the live session, a printable letter-size template will be emailed to you the weekend before class.

Class Materials

Victoria is preparing a pre-class study with color codes; the "Recommended supplies" list above and any further handout work (step colors, symbolism notes, formatted layout) are on hold until that's ready.

Supplies List (not included in class fee):

• None-absorbent Sized Xuan Paper: For this workshop, you will need 2 pieces of 13.5" x 9" sized Xuan paper. Cicada-wing-sized Xuan is highly recommended for sharper lines: Cicada-wing-sized Xuan Paper
• Brushes:
  • Seven-wolf-three-sheep Brush
  • Shuxu "Rat Whisker" Fine Detail Liner Brush
  • Essential Three Chinese Painting Brushes for water, color, and detail work.
• Color and Ink:
  • Marie’s 12 color tubes
  • Liquid Sumi Ink
• LED Lightbox (Optional): A4 size for tracing (available on Amazon here)

We look forward to seeing you in the studio for this elegant exploration of summer nature — with recording access so you can revisit the class anytime.

	Zoom + recording [vic_Dragonfly_01]	$50.00	Quantity :
	Recording only [vic_Dragonfly_02]	$49.00	Quantity :