Qi was elected as a member of China National Art Workers Association as well as committee of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC), and he was early or late appointed as the Honorary Professor of Central Academy of Fine Arts, Chairman of the Chinese Artists Association, Central Literary History Research Librarian, Chairman of Beijing Chinese Painting Research Society, honorary president of Beijing Art Gallery. In 1953 Qi was even awarded as "People's Artist " by the Chinese Cultural Ministry. Qi and his paintings were also recognized internationally, Art Academy Department in Germany in 1955 had awarded him as the "Corresponding Member". While World Peace Council in 1963 elected Qi as one of International Cultural Celebrity, at the same year Qi baishi 100th Anniversary Exhibition was held at the Art Museum of China. Publication of albums such as "Qi baishi Collections" and "Qi baishi landscape paintings selection" were soon or later being published and in one conclusion, Qi Baishi is absolutely one of giants in the field of modern Chinese Academy and Fine Arts.
Qi had great interest on carving during his early 30s, and he started to learn from the local carving professor. He apprenticed to carving Master Huang Xiangyi when he was 35 years old, he was later influent by his friends and began to travel all over China in a purpose of keeping his mindset updated, which indirectly generated a success in this later painting career. Qi was living on painting at the age of 41 in Guilin while at the same time he travel even more places such as Guangzhou, Guangxi, Chongqing, Vietnam, Shanghai and Nanjing, during this period his painting style had apparently change from the fine art of meticulous to draw freehand.
Qi decided to stay in Beijing for better career opportunities by painting and carving, and he got to know Master Chen Shizeng and was influent then by him in the painting philosophy. Qi then created his own painting style by adding with Pure Red and Dark Jet Black elements, together to form a picture in sharp contrast to produce clean and simple feeling in his creations. Qi was then be friend with masters like Mei Lanfang, Xu beihong and Ai qing when he was in Beijing, and he was later exhibit his artworks globally under assistance of Chen and that bring his Chinese paintings and Chinese fine arts to the rest of whole world.
Along with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in the year 1949, Qi was strongly awarded and appraised by Chinese Government due to his indomitable spirit against the invasion of Japanese army during World War Two. Qi was eventually awarded as honorary president of China Art Gallery in Beijing in 1957, and he had never given up painting in the rest of his life even at the last moment of his 93’s.
Among all of Qi baishi paintings, Prawn Drawing can be considered as his most successful and famous object compared with other artists, Qi was very strong in that and had his unique technique to draw prawn and crab in a lifelike pattern. In his painting, ink was used slightly to paint body of prawn while dense for those important parts such as eyes in together to create a lively picture of swimming prawns. Qi was able to manage the final effect in combining water, ink and Xuan paper when painting, which making the drawn prawns more hyaline and active. The best of his prawn drawings were mostly created in his early 70s and onwards, in a more hyaline, lively, active, and animate manner.
Qi was seldom drawing portraits; however his portrait technique was somehow inffluent by the late Qing period artists. Props in his portrait painting were usually unique and well picked, either they had certain degree of implied meaning, or they may represent some sort of Chinese tradition and custom.
Flowers and birds were also hot subjects in Qi’s paintings, however not many people know that Qi was actually more prefer landscape paintings, he was even thought that his landscape painting skill was better than Flowers and Birds drawing. Of course now his self-evaluation is well recognized by connoisseurs all over the world. The price of these artworks soar up dramatically and auction fairs are held from time to time due to the comparatively lack of his landscape copies.
Qi baishi calligraphy is the same excellent with his paintings, especially after his great innovation. Qi style calligraphy was strongly recognized and affirmed by the contemporary calligraphers, critics, and connoisseurs.
Meanwhile Qi was also sometimes draw creatural objects, animals were treated as children in this creations, especially for those petty ones such as flog, tadpoles, spiders and prawns, objects from the kingdom of animals are always being drawn in a outstanding quality by Qi baishi.
Now the good new here is we are able to offer reproduction service on most of Qi baishi paintings, which is produced as per order and exactly the same size & visual effect with the original copy. All of the Qi baishi paintings from Calligraphy and Prints column are fully mounted and standard packed before delivered!! and the reproduction service take up to one week to make it ready for delivery. If you are really like paintings from Qi, please don’t miss out this offer from us, and we will not let you down in term of quality and service.
Museum collections and art pieces from notable painters throughout Chinese history are now open for purchasing and they are reproduced as per order too, for those who love Chinese painting please take a move now!!
