疏池種芙蕖 Lotus in a pond

古今畫荷，當以張大千為第一，其詩疏池種芙蕖，當軒開一萼，暗香襟袖聞，涼風吹燈坐。境界亦高。
Chang Dai-chien stands first among ancient and modern painters. His poems are also beautiful.
This painting was inspired by a poem on one of his paintings.

紫蓮含羞吐紅艷 Light purple lotus

嫋嫋凌波寫紫蓮，含羞葉下吐紅艷，翠蓋翻飛春風去，羅紋紙上惜餘香。
荷花之美以風姿難狀、清香無形最為技窮，壬午冬日花興在樂音茶香中，試以工筆追摹其境其情。
No word describes the shape of the lotus flower; nor can any shape convey its fragrance.
This is why painting lotuses is difficult. I try my best using fine brushwork.

紅艷凝香帶露開 Dew on a fragrant, red lotus flower

紅艷凝香帶露開，春風拂檻入簾來，羅紋風華吹不散，詩情畫意共徘徊。
西元貳零零貳年王國財兄新製仿宋羅紋，簾深如夢，色雅古穆，壬午冬日工筆寫荷，心手甚相應，因借前人詩句改作題之。
Textured paper outshines even ancient paper for showing colors. It is perfect for a fragrant, red lotus flower in fine brushwork.

金宣紅荷 Red lotus on golden Xuan paper

綠影遷延舞袖遲，恍如金粉散琳池。壬午夏王國財精製金箋，係以金粉混入紙漿，
異於古法，華麗光釆過之，且受墨承色、重墨潑彩寫意工筆俱現毫顛，無異畫者神兵。
Mr. Kuo Ts’ai Wang uses gold dust to make his golden Xuan paper, improving on the techniques of ancient craftsmen.
It summons the Muse to help any artist using it.

羅紋沒骨寫荷 Supple lotus on textured paper

綠萍池沼裡，初見第一花。壬午冬用王國財精製羅紋沒骨寫荷，改楊萬里詩題之。
A single lotus rises from a pond green with lotus leaves.

磁青紙金荷 Golden lotus on midnight blue paper

貳零零參開元，暢寫王國財製磁青紙，得金荷三件，工者端麗，是作淋漓華麗，未知前人有此境界否？
On new year’s day 2003, I painted three pictures of golden lotuses on midnight blue paper: The result is