明月天衣 Moonlit Azure Bliss

Title:   明月天衣  Moonlit Azure Bliss

Artist: Li, Weisong 李巍松

Media: Chinese Painting on Rice Paper

Size: 26 x 52 in. (65 x 133 cm)

”荷花十里，清风鉴水，明月天衣。” 是元人张可久《人月圆》中的佳句，画家根据此诗意，运用了多重技法绘制了这幅大作，首先映入眼帘的是作品上部以大块“梵青”渲染出的幽幽月空。

“梵”，在佛教和印度教中解释为“寂静，高净，玄妙”，是不可描述的一种境界，此色最早为宫廷所用，非青非蓝，古人称之为“装堂花”或“铺殿花”，但是此色的调制和使用方法似已失传，画家多年探索，挖掘出了这种颜色的调制和绘画方法，画家为此色取名“梵青”。

传统中国画画家多爱画莲，代不乏佳作，此幅作品无论形式和技法都突破了前人，莲花花头取法明人并有所改变，花瓣形如佛手，甚是妖娆，画家称之为“佛手莲”，莲花不着一色，只用洋红细笔勾勒花丝，花丝线条直笔曲笔相间，以线代色。不着颜色依然灵动娇艳，极为盈人，此法须有极强的白描功力，更需要禅修般的定力，画面左下角有鸳鸯一对，刻画入微，顾盼生姿。这块空间也是整幅作品的画眼，整幅作品古妍瑰丽，意境深邃，是画家梵青风格花鸟画的力作。

题跋释文：清风鉴水，明月天衣。元人诗意，癸卯，巍松

"Lotus flowers for miles, with clear winds reflecting in the water, and the bright moon adorning the sky." This exquisite verse by the Yuan Dynasty poet Zhang Kejiu inspired the creation of a magnificent painting. The artist skillfully employed multiple techniques to bring this masterpiece to life.

At first glance, the upper part of the artwork captures the serene moonlit sky, rendered with broad strokes of a color known as "Fànqīng" or "Brahmin blue." In Buddhist and Hindu traditions, "Fàn" signifies silence, purity, and mystique, representing an indescribable state of being. Originally used in royal settings, this shade, neither blue nor green, was referred to as "palace decoration flower" or "hall paving flower" by ancient people. However, the methods for preparing and using this color seemed to have been lost over time. After years of exploration, the artist rediscovered the techniques for its preparation and application, naming it "Fànqīng."

Traditional Chinese painters often favor lotus flowers as subjects, and this piece breaks new ground in both form and technique. The lotus flowers, taking inspiration from ancient masters but with modifications, are depicted with petals resembling Buddha's hands, exuding a captivating charm. Dubbed "Buddha's Hand Lotus" by the artist, the flowers are not rendered in a single color. Instead, only magenta ink is used to outline the delicate filaments of the petals, creating a dynamic and alluring effect. This technique requires exceptional skill in line drawing and a Zen-like focus. In the lower left corner of the painting, a pair of mandarin ducks are depicted with exquisite detail, adding to the lively atmosphere.

This space serves as the focal point of the entire composition. With its ancient elegance and profound artistic conception, the painting stands as a masterpiece of the artist's distinctive style, showcasing the beauty and intricacy of Fànqīng-style flower-and-bird paintings.