Painting Art in Water

Tangliucai (Flowing Colors Art), known as "water painting" or "ink pool" during the Tang Dynasty, is an ancient painting technique. In this process, a vessel is filled with a liquid solution, and prepared pigments are dropped onto the surface, where they spread naturally into irregular, often geometric patterns based on the artist's conception. Artists make use of the principle of water-oil separation to shape designs on the water's surface according to their creative intent. Sometimes they create geometric patterns directly; at other times, use fine-tipped tools to draw delicate floral and botanical motifs.

The surfaces for Tangliucai are not limited to plates. It can also be applied to objects such as fan surfaces and ladles, as well as on materials including cotton, silk, and leather. Owing to the fluid and spontaneous nature of the technique, each Tangliucai work is one of a kind.