"Golden Horizon & Mountain Radiance" Intermediate Mineral Pigment Painting Workshop

 

Sun Museum will host the “Golden Horizon & Mountain Radiance” Intermediate Mineral Pigment Painting Workshop this November, featuring special guest guidance from artist Leung Pui Yi @puie2 @puieartchive. Specially designed for participants with basic experience in mineral pigment painting or drawing, this workshop centers around the theme of ethereal and elegant natural landscapes. Through an in-depth breakdown of the soul-stirring techniques behind the masterpiece, participants will explore the application of gold leaf and gold powder, the glazing of purple-blue mountain ranges with atmospheric perspective, the creation of micro-three-dimensional textures using relief outlining (lifen) to form flower trees, and the unique burnishing effects that reveal underlying golden reflections. The instructor will guide students to master the overlapping and translucent properties of mineral pigments, creating an artwork filled with Eastern poetic charm and subtle luster.

 

Across four sessions, participants will advance their artistic exploration of traditional mediums by deconstructing spatial dimensions across distant, middle, and foreground views. Building upon foundational mineral pigment painting skills, the workshop highlights the application of gold accents in skies and mountain mists, integrated with the textural play of “gofun” (made from oyster shells) and relief outlining. Artist will also demonstrate how to precisely use specialized sandpaper to partially polish the surface, allowing the hidden metallic shimmer to surface gracefully—imparting a unique sense of time and rich texture. This workshop will guide participants to delicately depict the dynamic beauty of drifting clouds and the gradient mist of mountain ranges, further discovering the versatile joy and aesthetic depth of mineral pigment art. 

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Dates: November 6, 13, 20, 27 (Friday)

Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Venue: Sun Museum Café

Fee: HKD 1,300 for 4 sessions (excludes the cost of mineral pigments)

Language: Cantonese

Age: 18 years old or above

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Materials: Most of the materials and tools will be provided by the instructor (e.g. brushes, drawing boards and paper). Natural mineral pigments from the brand "Tianchengxuan" will be available for purchase at the museum shop (around HKD 400). You are welcome to bring your own mineral pigments to class if needed.

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【Course Outline】

 

Lesson 1: Composition Layout and Golden Mist Base Preparation

• Deconstructing spatial dimensions across distant mountains, middle-ground terraces, and foreground tall trees and flower bushes

• Demonstration of applying and underpainting gold leaf/gold powder between the sky and mountain mists to present the metallic luster of drifting clouds

• Student practice: Transferring the design layout, completing base glue mixing, and applying the first layer of gold and purple-blue base to the sky and distant mountains

 

Lesson 2: Atmospheric Perspective and Mountain Range Layer Glazing

• Demonstration of blending low-saturation pastel purple, blue-grey, and pale green mineral pigments

• Instruction on glazing and translucent layering techniques to depict distant snow-capped peaks, layered mountain ranges, and the spatial dimension of gradient mist

• Student practice: Layering colours on middle-ground terraces and hills to establish a soft, elegant overall tone for the painting

 

Lesson 3: Tree Modeling and Micro-3D Texture with "Gofun" and Relief Outlining

• Demonstration of brushwork and colour layering for dark conifers and the tall trees on the right

• Demonstration of mixing and dotting techniques using “gofun” (made from oyster shells) and relief outlining (lifen) to express delicate three-dimensional light spots on tree canopies and foreground white blossoms

• Student practice: Depicting middle-ground dark tree clusters and applying relief outlining techniques to stack detailed textures of foreground trees and flowers

 

Lesson 4: Partial Polishing, Shimmer Fine-Tuning, and Detail Processing

• Demonstration of partial polishing techniques using specialized sandpaper to reveal underlying metallic shimmer and colours, adding a sense of time and layer depth to the painting

• Final colour blending with other mediums (e.g. coloured pencils, pigment powders), followed by peer observation and critique

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Artist | Leung Pui Yi @puie2 @puieartchive

 

Leung Pui Yi graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, majoring in Fine-Line Brush Painting (Gongbi). She furthered her studies at the Beijing Fine Art Academy to deepen her mastery of Gongbi and traveled to Dunhuang to research Mineral Pigment Painting (Iwai-enogu/Yancai), skillfully blending traditional techniques with contemporary innovation. Leung focuses on Chinese Gongbi and mineral pigment painting, showcasing the subtle elegance of Oriental aesthetics. As an active artist, she regularly organizes and participates in numerous exhibitions in an individual capacity.

 

In 2021, she founded "Gongbi Artchive" (@gongbiartchive) to promote the art of Chinese fine-line painting. Through an accessible and engaging approach to teaching, she guides students in mastering Gongbi techniques, unlocking their creative potential, and collaborating with various institutions to hold workshops. In recent years, she has also been actively advocating for the development of mineral pigment painting in Hong Kong. By curating mineral pigment workshops for cultural organizations and community projects, she aims to bring this art form—celebrated for its rich classical heritage and modern aesthetic appeal—into the public eye.