Playful Animals in Chinese Ink & Watercolor

Discover the beauty and spirit of animals through Classical Chinese ink and expressive watercolor with prof Hanbing Hua. Each lesson highlights a different creature, guiding you in capturing personality, movement, and texture with lively, confident brushwork. From powerful tigers to gentle pandas and elegant swans, you’ll learn to paint with vitality, sensitivity, and a strong sense of character. Students are welcome to share photos of their favorite pets or animals as course references.

Enroll Today

Playful Animals in Chinese Ink & Watercolor

Playful Animals is designed to help you confidently capture the life and spirit of animals through expressive watercolor while introducing you to the foundations of Chinese ink painting. With Prof. Hua’s clear and confident guidance, the simple, fluid lines and purposeful brushstrokes of classical ink painting become easy to pick up and deeply enjoyable. His “less is more” approach reveals how minimal strokes can convey powerful emotion, rhythm, and movement. Chinese ink fundamentals also reinforce stronger watercolor design and technique.

Course Outline & Schedule

Lesson 1: Rhinoceros

Dec 6 Sat

Traits: Thick, stone-like armor; one or two jade-like horns; rugged, primal texture
Habits: Grasslands and marshes; herbivore; calm but strongly defensive
Artistic Depiction: Bold lines to define form, dense ink for armor, and reserved white space to highlight the horn — combining strength and grace

Lesson 2: Panda

Dec 13 Sat

TBC

Traits: Iconic black-and-white fur; round, gentle appearance; dark eye patches
Habits: Bamboo forests; feeds on bamboo; solitary, calm, and enjoys climbing
Artistic Depiction: Simple strokes to outline form, varied ink tones for contrast, and negative space to soften fur — capturing playful charm

Lesson 3: Tiger

Dec 20

TBC

Traits: Bright fur with black stripes; powerful build; distinct “king” mark
Habits: Forest dweller; nocturnal; swift, solitary hunter
Artistic Depiction: Strong structural lines, layered ink for bold stripes, and white space for sheen — radiating power and presence

Lesson 4: Cow

Jan 10

TBC

Traits: Black-and-white coat; gentle, rounded build; soft ears and glossy fur
Habits: Pastures; grass-fed; calm and social
Artistic Depiction: Soft lines for roundness, ink to define spots, and light washes to reveal softness — warm and approachable

Lesson 5: Puppy

Jan 17

TBC

Traits: Agile form; soft fur; bright eyes; playful and affectionate
Habits: Social, lively, intelligent omnivore
Artistic Depiction: Gentle lines and light ink to shape its form, with white space for fluffy texture — full of lively warmth

Lesson 6: Rooster

Jan 24 Sat

TBC

Lesson 7: Eagle

Jan 31 Sat

TBC

Traits: Red comb; colorful tail feathers; golden-brown plumage; sharp claws
Habits: Farmyard companion; active by day; territorial; heralds the dawn
Artistic Depiction: Vibrant hues for crest and feathers, bold lines for structure, and layered ink for patterns — bursting with vitality

Traits: Broad wingspan; sharp talons; golden-brown plumage; piercing eyes
Habits: Cliff nests; hunts by day; solitary and fierce
Artistic Depiction: Powerful strokes to capture stance, rich ink for plumage, and open space to suggest force and motion — majestic and commanding

Lesson 8: Horse

Feb 7 Sat

TBC

Traits: Strong, athletic build; slender limbs; flowing mane; sleek coat
Habits: Grassland herds; fast, spirited, and intelligent
Artistic Depiction: Dynamic lines for movement, ink gradients for coat texture, and white space to suggest wind and speed — strength with elegance

Lesson 9: Swan

Feb 14 Sat

TBC

Traits: White plumage; arched neck; graceful posture; vivid beak
Habits: Lakes and rivers; migratory; feeds on aquatic plants; lifelong pair bonds
Artistic Depiction: Delicate lines for the neck, soft ink for feather sheen, and white space for poise — ethereal beauty

Lesson 10: Penguin

Feb 21 Sat

TBC

Traits: Black-and-white plumage; plump, charming form; sturdy flippers
Habits: Antarctic habitat; group-living; feeds on fish and krill; excellent swimmer
Artistic Depiction: Rounded lines to define form, ink tones to separate black and white, and light washes for downy softness — irresistibly endearing

Bonus feedback Lesson

TBD

In this final session, Prof. Hua will review selected student works and offer personalized critiques to help you refine technique, strengthen expression, and consolidate what you’ve learned. It’s a focused chance to receive targeted feedback, ask questions, and end the course with clarity and confidence.