樹葉與書畫的結(jié)合，源遠(yuǎn)流長。從古印度人用貝葉刺刻經(jīng)文算起已有2500多年的歷史。自古以來，人們都在不停嘗試用樹葉記事或作畫，但因技術(shù)上的局限性，相關(guān)記載并不多見，能流傳于后世的作品更是鳳毛麟角了。藏于五臺山的明代《菩提十八羅漢葉畫》便是比較早期的樹葉畫作品了。

現(xiàn)代葉脈畫與古代的貝葉經(jīng)和葉畫不同，是一種全新的工藝美術(shù)品。它起源于上世紀(jì)九十年代的重慶，創(chuàng)始人為重慶工藝美術(shù)界前輩周炳烈先生。在退休后反復(fù)琢磨如何將自然天成的精巧無比的葉脈變成一種人見人愛、更具觀賞性的藝術(shù)品。經(jīng)反復(fù)試驗，終于在1996年把這種奇思妙想變成了現(xiàn)實，制作出了張葉脈畫。

巧妙地利用樹葉的自然肌理，去其葉肉，取起經(jīng)脈，再將傳統(tǒng)山水、人物、花鳥題材融入天然葉脈上，把多彩的畫面和諧地與樹葉的自然美融會一體，營造出別具韻味、靈秀自然的藝術(shù)境地。

LEAF Vein Painting

Deep in the forests in West China artists collect the deciduous leaves of special trees and have them undergo extensive secret treatment to arrive at the marvelous medium we call leaf vein. These masters use the leaf vein as their canvas or rice paper to draw with traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy.

Leaf Veins Painting was first invented in Chongqing. Painting drawn on the soft and thin veins look so different and delicate. Landscape, figures, animals and flowers could all be the subjects and the artworks made from the veins have long been favored by tourists from different part of the world, as either for personal collection or for gifts and presentations in occasions like birthday party, friend visiting, wedding, meeting or just a featured travel souvenir.