Maggie Cross is an artist who specialises in Chinese Painting technique, and moves between the meticulous and the freestyle approaches. Cross spent time in Hong Kong at an early age and lived in the New Territories district. Her early years’ education was at a Chinese school where she learnt to speak the Cantonese dialect and to write Chinese characters which led to a discovery of the joy of Chinese painting. She has now been teaching chinese art for many years and regularly returns to China to update her knowledge. We wanted to find out more about her painting practice.
Hen Party
Maggie Cross
Chinese Watercolour on paper
Lisa: If you had to define the art of Chinese Painting in 4 words, which would you choose?
Maggie: Relaxing, fascinating, absorbing, satisfying.
Lisa: Do you have a specific set way of preparing yourself for making a painting?
Maggie: I meditate whilst grinding the ink.
Oriental Poppies
Maggie Cross
Chinese Watercolour on paper
Lisa: Is there actually any room for error in Chinese painting, or is it a case of once you’ve made a mistake it’s game over?
Maggie: Not really, however, mistakes can be covered up with an insect for example!
Lisa: On your website you describe 2 styles – meticulous and freestyle painting. Is one more authentically Chinese than the other and do you have a preference for either one?
Maggie: They are both traditional Chinese styles and my preference is for the ‘freestyle’ as it allows self expression through the brush.
Traditional Chinese bamboo painting
Maggie Cross
Chinese Watercolour on paper
Lisa: What is your favourite surface on which to paint?
Maggie: Traditional Chinese absorbent paper such as ‘Xuan’, however I also like mulberry because of its texture and properties.
Lisa: Which papers would you recommend to those interested in trying the freestyle painting technique for the first time?
Maggie: For beginners, I would suggest using ‘grass’ paper because it is slightly less absorbent and more forgiving.
Lisa:What would be an ideal basic set of brushes to invest in if you’re an artist interested in trying Chinese painting for the first time?
Maggie: I would suggest a Lin Feng (large), small orchid and bamboo (medium) and small landscape (small).
Lisa: Do you think it’s important to have an understanding of Chinese characters in order to master Chinese painting technique?
Maggie: Not necessarily although it is an interesting skill to have. Chinese painting and calligraphy both require the skill of using the brush with confidence and accuracy (and flourish for freestyle painting). Interestingly Chinese painting and calligraphy are known as ‘twin sisters of the brush’.
How to hold the brush for Chinese painting and calligraphy
Lisa: What is the best way of holding a Chinese painting brush?
Maggie: This is hard to describe in words as the brush is used at various angles. I hold it in an upright positing between my thumb and first two fingers with the other two fingers tucked behind.
Lisa: Where online or in the flesh can we view more of your work?
Maggie: On my website – www.maggie-cross.co.uk
