Pomegranate Blossoms Like Rosy Clouds
Gongbi Painting Workshop with Victoria
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
9:00 AM–12:30 PM Pacific Time
Live on Zoom + Lifetime Recording Access
All Levels Welcome
About the Painting
This workshop is inspired by a pomegranate painting by Tian Shiguang (田世光, 1916–1999), an important 20th-century master of Chinese Gongbi flower-and-bird painting.
Brilliant red blossoms gather among dark green leaves and strong woody branches. Careful line and layered color are balanced by generous open space—meticulous yet lively, refined yet natural.
Our poetic title is:
丹榴似霞
Dān Liú Sì Xiá — Pomegranate Blossoms Like Rosy Clouds
The title evokes the clusters of scarlet flowers glowing like rosy clouds among the foliage.
What You’ll Learn
Victoria will guide students step by step through the painting, focusing on:
- Fine ink outlining of flowers, buds, leaves, and branches
- Layering reds to create luminous pomegranate blossoms
- Two-brush washing and smooth color gradations
- Building rich greens and tonal variation in the foliage
- Painting woody branches, young twigs, and buds
- Adding stamens, veins, and finishing details
- Balancing flower clusters, branches, and negative space
- Traditional Gongbi techniques including separated washing (分染) and glazing (罩染)
The goal is not simply to copy every petal and leaf, but to understand how a Gongbi master organizes detailed forms into a graceful and unified composition.
Painting, Calligraphy & Seal
Victoria will also demonstrate the poetic title 丹榴似霞 in four traditional calligraphy styles:
楷书 — Standard Script
行书 — Semi-cursive Script
草书 — Cursive Script
隶书 — Clerical Script
Students may choose a style for their finished painting and learn how to place the inscription and seal harmoniously within the composition.
Before Class
Registered students will receive a pre-class handout and printable tracing template. Preparing the outline before class allows more workshop time for color, brush technique, and finishing details.
Use fully sized, non-absorbent Xuan paper or silk suitable for Gongbi painting. A detailed materials and color list will be provided with the handout.
Workshop Format
The workshop is taught live on Zoom, with opportunities to paint along, ask questions, and receive guidance from Victoria.
The complete class will be recorded, and registered students will receive lifetime access to the recording for continued practice after the workshop.
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:
- Color and 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.
