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Grass
and insects are embellishments in a flower-and-bird painting. A
single butterfly or dragonfly in the right place can make a big
difference to the appearance of a painting. The following lines
by Yang Wanli of the Song dynasty are descriptions of paintings
with these charming little additions:The little lotus has barely
shown its tip,When a dragonfly swiftly alights upon it.The little
boy hotly chases a yellow butterfly,
Which flies into a cauliflower and is lost to view.
The segments of its horns were executed with vigorous, clear-cut
strokes, and a few spots of white were added on its wings. In the
upper right is a frog in ink; this creature must look lively, not
like a sullen toad. In the lower part of the picture are a moth
and a bee, the latter painted with sturdy legs and thin transparent
wings dotted with white. The colours should be moderate and the
ink should not seep too much.
Grass and insects must look light and lively, not heavy and clumsy.
They can be outlined in thin ink and then coloured. A strong colour
may obscure the outlines, which is permissible.
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