Add Historical Art to Your Home or Office

Zhou Zhen, of Zhou Zhen Chinese Art, creates beautiful woodblock paintings using traditional Chinese art methods. Based in Shandong Province, China as well as in Chicago, IL, Zhou Zhen produces colorful, clean, vibrant art scroll’s that epitomizes the beauty of Chinese culture and folklore.

Traditional Methods

The method for creating traditional Chinese Silk Woodblock Prints involves several steps that culminate in the gorgeous, polished end product. First, Zhou Zhen creates original pencil sketches based on ancient Chinese prints to maintain historical accuracy. Then a block of hard pear wood is carefully carved by hand  using traditional tools. This wood-block is used to print black outlines on special Xuanzhi paper, and then carefully hand-painted using bright colors, many of which are made by hand. Finally, the finished painting is mounted on a Chinese Scroll for display.

Historical Context

Traditional Chinese woodblock prints focus on a wide range of subjects, from figures from folklore to expressions of good will. Zhou Zhen’s most recent paintings are of the traditional and classic Door Gods, portraits of Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong, who were famous generals in the service of Emperor Tang Taizong in the 7th century. These generals protected the Emperor, who was sick and believed that demons were going to harm him. After the generals guarded his home, he felt better. He ordered the portraits of his generals to be posted at the palace doors, and this became a common practice in homes throughout China. Placing such paintings or depictions of Door Gods at the entrance to your home, business, or any location is said to offer protection.

 

Maintaining a Classic and Rare Art form

Zhou Zhen specializes in using only traditional tools, materials, and methods in his traditional Chinese art. Woodblock printing and painting has been on the decline due to modernization, and he feels that it is important to keep this historical aspect of Chinese culture alive and thriving. You’re able to help in this goal and enjoy an expression of Chinese culture in your home or office by ordering paintings from Zhou Zhen Chinese Art.

Ordering Prints

Zhou Zhen’s original art is available individually or in sets. His paintings range in size, and some are up to one yard tall. After the wood-block prints have been painted, they are usually mounted on scrolls for display and shipped in custom-made silk boxes to protect the delicate art.