Monkey portraits by Chinese ink painting masters

Wang Zhe was born into a family of calligraphers and painters in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning province. He has been studying Chinese painting for more than 40 years, and is known for his Chinese ink monkey paintings.[File photo]

This year marks the Year of the Monkey according to the Chinese calendar. How do Chinese ink painting masters portray the creature that is the closest relative to human beings? Playful, clever or mischievous?

Adopting few colors, mainly black, yellow, and a little red, monkeys painted in a calligraphic way are no less vivid than primates brushed with thick oils. Fluffy yet abstract, monkeys rendered on rice paper capture the soul of the little creatures.

Are you wondering how a few brush of strokes work their magic? Let's find out.