Oriental Paintings

Many people in the west are familiar with names such as Da Vinci, Rembrandt and Van Gogh. But the East has also produced some of the world's most exquisite painters, such as Chi' Pai Shih, Xie He and Ukai Uchiyama. Indeed, the rich tradition of Oriental painting has gone unnoticed by many Westerners until recently. While Western painting made its goal the realistic depiction of the world and its objects, Oriental painting tries to capture the essence of an object, person or landscape. More importance is given to suggestion than to realism in Oriental painting.

Western painting uses color to convey shadows, tones and a sense of space. There is a definite boundary between two objects with little relationship between them. Oriental painting, on the contrary, is historically influenced by the Buddhist and Taoist tradition of change within the changeless, or separation and integration. The ever-present philosophy of yin-yang dualism and harmony of existence has pervaded Oriental painting for centuries. As the sea meets the land, there is a generative harmony at the shoreline, where the two remain separate yet mix a little. Land and water, control and spontaneity, male and female - these and other dichotomies are all manifestations of yin-yang dualism and the mark of Oriental painting.

For the Oriental artist, nature plays an important role. It expresses the need to understand the patterns of the world and to live in accordance with them. Inanimate objects are never painted for art's sake; they are expressions of the unseen forces at work in the universe. As a result, many of the objects in Oriental paintings are symbolic of a greater truth. For example, water represents the Tao, in that it flows effortlessly and can break down the hardest of substances; the crane is indicative of longevity. There are many different symbols present in traditional Oriental painting. Most common are the "four gentlemen" - the plum tree, the orchid, bamboo and the chrysanthemum. Pine trees are also very common, representing survival in a harsh environment or the unconquerable spirit of old age.

The paintings featured on www.Oriental-Decor.com are all hand-painted and composed by master craftsmen in the art of Oriental painting. Each painting is an expression of the artist who created it and embodies the rich tradition of the Orient. This can be seen by the use of color, symmetry and brush strokes in each painting. Nature is pervasive in every painting as well, while mood is created by the tint of the sky and the artist's theme of colors.

Oriental paintings are fast becoming one of the hottest selling art items. People around the world are beginning to recognize Oriental paintings as one of the best decorative items they can add to their homes and offices. Most Oriental paintings center on nature as their theme and have an impressionistic look to them. As a result, Oriental paintings add a touch of yin and balance to any room.