Chinese brush painting uses minimal strokes to describe the essence of a subject and capture its rhythm and grace。 This beautiful book contains 200 exquisite motifs to re-create， from flowers and fruits to wildlife and scenery。 This book starts with a brief history of Chinese painting styles， followed by a chapter on materials， tools， and basic techniques。 The heart of the book is a directory of 200 motifs， starting with the "Four Gentlemen"€”the bamboo， orchid， plum， blossom and crysanthemum。 Chinese painting courses usually begin with the Four Gentlemen because the wide range of strokes required to paint each of them provides a catalog of strokes that can then be used to paint any other subject。The Chinese Brush Painting Bible is especially designed for artists of all levels， beginner to advanced， who are looking to hone their skills in a specific style of artwork。 The books are 6。5in x 8in， hardcover with an internal spiral binding so they lay open flat as readers follow the steps on their own canvas。 This book is beautifully illustrated and contains hundreds of colorful pieces of artwork， photographs， and helpful diagrams。 Step-by-step instructions help guide artists through the learning process。