夜之夢（流沙畫）
簡化的構圖──化繁為簡。
畫中只剩下三個單元──樹林、屋宇和一彎上弦月。色調更是單純，只有綠跟赭。
我看過許多前輩大畫家年輕時期的畫作，繁複厚重，確然下過很紮實的真功夫。到了老年，越畫越簡單，漸漸的出現一些童稚味來，這種「化繁為簡」的原因應該是跟眼力、體力變差有關係，但最大原因可能是「心境」已經大不相同了。
有些局外人在看了這些大師晚年的畫作之後說：「這種畫我也會畫。」或者竟不屑地說：「這種畫跟小孩子畫的沒兩樣，名過其實了。」──唉，真又不知該從何處說起。
朱屺瞻先生云：「兒童畫饒天真無框框，無矯揉做作之態。年老了，愈愛天真之美，愛其自然不偽，愛其簡單樸素。說到底，簡單樸素，正是大家之風，古典之美。」
「筆熟較易，筆樸最難。樸字裡透出生機的真味。」
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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責任編輯：昌英
