夜之梦（流沙画）
简化的构图──化繁为简。
画中只剩下三个单元──树林、屋宇和一弯上弦月。色调更是单纯，只有绿跟赭。
我看过许多前辈大画家年轻时期的画作，繁复厚重，确然下过很扎实的真功夫。到了老年，越画越简单，渐渐的出现一些童稚味来，这种“化繁为简”的原因应该是跟眼力、体力变差有关系，但最大原因可能是“心境”已经大不相同了。
有些局外人在看了这些大师晚年的画作之后说：“这种画我也会画。”或者竟不屑地说：“这种画跟小孩子画的没两样，名过其实了。”──唉，真又不知该从何处说起。
朱屺瞻先生云：“儿童画饶天真无框框，无矫揉做作之态。年老了，愈爱天真之美，爱其自然不伪，爱其简单朴素。说到底，简单朴素，正是大家之风，古典之美。”
“笔熟较易，笔朴最难。朴字里透出生机的真味。”
Dream of Night/sand painting
Simplified composition－simplifying what is complicated.
This painting contains only three elements－The forest, houses, and a crescent moon. The colors are also very pure, and are limited to only green and brown.
I have noticed that many of the leading painters of the older generation made complicated, dense paintings during their earlier periods, and put tremendous effort into these works. But by the time they were approaching old age, their paintings tended to become simpler, and sometimes gradually assumed an almost childlike character. While the reason for this simplification of the complicated may have to do with worsening eyesight and physical strength, the most important reason may be these artists’ changing state of mind.
When they see the later paintings of these masters, some outsiders say things like, “I could make a painting like this!” or the even more disdainful “This is like a child’s painting; this artist’s reputation is exaggerated.”－ It’s really hard to reason with people like this.
In the words of Chu Chi-chan, “Children’s’ paintings are full of innocence and free from conventions or affectations. As one grows older, the more one likes innocent beauty for its simplicity, plainness, and freedom from affectation. In short, plainness and simplicity are universal favorites and represent classical beauty.”
“Skilled brushwork is easy; crude brushwork is more difficult. Simplicity evokes the true flavor of life.” ＠
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