I began creating Chinese Watercolor Art, aka shuimo 水墨 /shway-mor/ water-ink and guohua 国画 /gwor-hwaa, in 2020. In this collection, I used watercolor techniques to draw various nature scenes. Chinese watercolors are natural pigments bound with glue. The main focus is its luminosity and transparency.
Mainly there are two techniques;
① The filling-in technique is strongly related to calligraphy.
② The boneless technique combined with the splashing-ink technique. Color usage is the foremost performer on rice paper. There are no outlines or shaping lines in ink; instead, color is used. This method is applied mainly in flower painting but can also be used in landscape painting.
Anisa’s Chinese watercolor paintings
Bamboo with leaves
Lovebird in a den.
Grass and Flowers on Rock
Cherry Blossom
White Blossom Tree
White Blossom Tree
Chinese Watercolor Flowers and leafs
Anisa Ozalp is working on Chinese Watercolor
Anisa Ozalp is working on Chinese Watercolor
Master Shifu Commission
Handmade Chinese watercolor commission inspired by Master Shifu
This custom Chinese watercolor commission was created for a private collector in Australia as an anniversary gift inspired by the philosophy and atmosphere of Kung Fu Panda. The artwork features a traditional Chinese watercolor interpretation of Master Shifu together with the quote: “If you only do what you can do, you will never be more than you are now.” The final composition combines Chinese-inspired mountain landscapes, bamboo elements, moonlight atmosphere, layered watercolor washes, calligraphic structure, and traditional seal aesthetics into a contemporary reinterpretation of classical East Asian painting traditions.
Creating this artwork felt especially meaningful because it allowed me to bring traditional Chinese watercolor techniques together with a modern cinematic scene. I also used a little bit of tezhip technique in the piece.
PROCESS
Visualising the Atmosphere
I imagined a calm, wise, and cinematic world that reflected Master Shifu’s character. Misty mountains, bamboo, moonlight, rocks, and cherry blossoms became the key elements of the scene.
Research and Composition Planning
I studied Chinese watercolor and ink painting, focusing on atmosphere, brushwork, and the use of negative space. Using Procreate, I planned the composition, adjusting Shifu’s pose, expression, landscape elements, quote placement, and overall balance.
Sketch Development and Transfer
I refined Master Shifu’s expression to convey wisdom and focus. Once the digital sketch was complete, I printed it at full size and transferred a light outline onto watercolor paper.
Preparing Materials
I planned the color palette before painting: soft greys for the mountains, greens for the robe and bamboo, warm browns for the fur, pinks for the blossoms, and red for the seal.
Building the Background
I began with light watercolor washes to establish the mood, then gradually developed the mountains, mist, and rocks with darker layers and textures to create depth.
Painting Master Shifu
After establishing the background, I painted Master Shifu using transparent layers. I carefully developed the robe, fur, staff, and facial features, keeping him as the focal point of the composition.
Adding Details
I strengthened the robe folds, shadows, and decorative elements, then painted the rocks, bamboo, and cherry blossoms. These details added structure, movement, balance, and color contrast.
Integrating Text and Traditional Elements
I hand-painted the quote, added vertical calligraphy featuring my name, and included a traditional red seal. These elements enhanced the artwork’s cultural atmosphere and personal meaning.
Final Refinements
In the final stage, I strengthened selected shadows and contrasts while preserving the soft watercolor effect. After making small adjustments and cleaning the edges, the artwork was completed as a personal interpretation of Master Shifu in a traditional Chinese watercolor-inspired setting.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Custom handmade Chinese watercolor commission inspired by Master Shifu, the wise red panda kung fu master from Kung Fu Panda.Yes, you can see my cat, TUTU, helped me a lot in the process.Tutu was very happy to make a little cameo in the process. She is a street cat I rescued in Turkey when she was very sick with malnutrition and a serious mouth infection, and I later brought her to New York together with her sister, Dudu, another female calico cat. Tutu has been such an emotional support companion while I work, so it felt very natural that she became part of the behind-the-scenes story of this piece.
Master Shifu concept sketch
Artwork outline transfer
Full-scale painting setup
First watercolor washes
Facial detail process
watercolor detail
Mountain and bamboo painting
Final composition in progress
Watercolor face close-up
Hand-painted rock detail
Chinese landscape detail
Quote painting process
Final quote detail
Completed quote
Artist seal detail
Master Shifu portrait detail
Calligraphy and bamboo detail
Cherry blossom detail
Studio painting process
CHINESE WATERCOLOR PRACTICES
Artistry of Chinese Watercolor
Unleash your creative spirit as we delve into the captivating world of Chinese watercolor, an art form passionately pursued by the accomplished Anisa Ozalp. Since 2020, Anisa has been crafting a dynamic collection of shuimo 水墨 and guohua 国画, harmoniously blending the luminosity and transparency of watercolors with the mesmerizing grace of nature scenes. Utilizing natural pigments bound with glue, Anisa applies two unique techniques: the calligraphy-related filling-in technique and the boneless method, often combined with the splashing-ink technique. These techniques infuse color directly onto rice paper, bypassing the need for shaping lines in ink, and are prominently used in depicting Chinese watercolor flowers and leaves, cherry blossoms, white blossom trees, bamboo with leaves, and lovebirds in a den. For those seeking to immerse themselves in this art form or to feature it in their own projects, Anisa Ozalp is your guide to the enthralling universe of Chinese watercolor.
COMMISSION
If you want to commission Chinese Watercolor projects, Anisa is the artist you can contact. Her expertise in this medium is unmatched. Furthermore, you can delve into her creative process by watching her captivating Speedpaint videos and more on her YouTube channel.
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