Description 竹林小鳥 Birds by the Bamboo Grove
款識：宇煌女弟清賞，乙卯丁衍庸。
鈐印：丁庸（白文）
Signed Ding Yan-Yong in Chinese
With one seal of the artist
註：
上款人「宇煌女弟」，應為丁衍庸的台灣弟子鄭宇煌，鄭氏曾赴港習畫，後赴澳洲。
《竹林小鳥》全圖筆勁老熟簡練，丁衍庸畫石則脫自石濤筆意，中鋒用筆繪出凝重流暢、廼勁有力的線條，實得力於他深厚的書法造詣與篆刻的研究，寫石筆開八面突顯出金石趣味，既能力求樸拙，又可襯托出石塊的沉穩樣貌；石旁寫竹梢，自下而上落筆速疾，後以側鋒濃墨掃出竹葉，多用一枝三葉造景，竹枝的瘦與石塊的沉對比出畫面的層次與逸趣；石上畫小鳥展翅欲飛，表情極富童趣且生動自然，款識題贈台灣弟子鄭宇煌，可得知此畫初觀雖然饒富機趣，但卻隱含丁衍庸惜才愛徒之心。
Birds by the Bamboo Grove was composed with minimal strokes. Rocks were drawn with vertical brush forming sturdy and smooth lines. Such skills were derived from his in-depth knowledge in calligraphy, seal script and epigraphy. This way, the heaviness of the rock could be achieved. A bamboo was placed next to the rock. Swift brushstrokes were used on the stems, followed by slanted strokes and saturated ink for the leaves. A three-leaves per branch technique was used. The slender bamboo contrasts with the heavy boulder, creating layering and aesthetic value to the painting. A bird resting on the rock was drawn with a funny expression, yet true to its nature. The inscription mentions the painting was a gift to his Taiwanese student Cheng Yu-Huang, thus revealing a teacher's love to his students.
Dimensions 69 x 34 cm
Artist or Maker DING YAN-YONG (Chinese, 1902-1978)
Medium 水墨 紙本 立軸 Ink on paper, scroll
Date 1975
