湖南省湘阴县人。中国少先队队徽的设计者。中国美术家协会会员、中国书法家协会会员、中国工艺美术学会会员、中国社会名人工作委员会常务理事、中国工艺美术学会民间工艺美术委员会副主任。他擅长水彩写生画、雕漆画、民间工艺美术研究、书法、篆刻、摄影、美术评论。他的水彩写生画多次在《人民日报》、中央电视台等各大报刊媒体上发表。
1931年9月18日出生于湖南省湘阴县书香世家，父亲是辛亥革命元老刘况。
1951年毕业于“东北鲁迅文艺学院”美术部，后分配在东北区团委工作，任东北青年出版社美术助理编辑。
1951年以来，刘恪山一直为中国少先队摄影，曾在中外报刊发表有关中国少先队活动的照片两千余幅。
1954年调任团中央《辅导员》杂志美术编辑、摄影记者。
1958年因为仗义执言维护党的利益，被团中央错划为“右派”。
1959年下放山西临猗县农村劳动两年，而后在临猗县文化馆工作。
1964年调临汾地区展览馆任美术总体设计，后任副馆长。
1979年团中央为其改正“右派”问题，撤销处分，恢复原级别，重新调回团中央工作，仍任《辅导员》杂志美术组组长、编委。
1980年，当时因12个社会主义国家的少先队都有自己的队徽，团中央的领导觉得我们国家也应该有自己的少先队队徽。设计队徽是非常专业的事情，但团中央都知道他是个“老画家”，所以当时的团中央书记处书记胡德华就直接找到他并让他承担这项任务。刘恪山接到任务后一点不敢马虎，这队徽既要有政治性、思想性，还应有装饰性，最后设计成五星、火焰、绶带的形式，上是‘中国少先队’五个金字。五角星也可以说是我们国旗上的一颗星，火炬代表少先队的热情与希望，象征着少先队员要做共产主义事业接班人的崇高理想。队徽的整个创作过程非常顺利，四五个草稿后，团中央就定稿了。中国少先队徽就这样诞生了，这是目前世界上发行数量最多的徽章之一。
1989年被评为编审高级职称。
1990年全国少先队代表大会正式通过颁布使用刘恪山设计的中国少先队队徽。”
1992年退休。
1993年由希望出版社出版了《阳光下的花朵——刘恪山摄影作品选》画册。
1997年荣获国务院“政府特殊津贴”证书和奖金，被评为“中国科学技术协会先进工作者”，以表彰他为中国民间工艺美术事业所作的贡献。
1997年2月中央电视台一台在“夕阳红”中播放了对他的专访。
1999年11月山西电视台为他拍摄了“情寄河东”专题播出，介绍他在晋南的艺术活动和成绩，高度评价了他的艺术成就。
2000年由中国青年出版社出版了《刘恪山绘画、书法、篆刻、摄影作品集画册》。
2006年，中国工艺美术学会授予他“终身成就奖”。
2006年8月1日《参考消息》报题为《俯首甘为孺子牛》以整版篇幅介绍了他的事迹。
2006年12月，他应邀到绍兴兰亭风景区游览，东道主诚邀他书写《兰亭集序》，作永久性纪念。他仅用35分钟时间便写成了一幅2米多的长卷《兰亭集序》，而且完全凭记忆背写，一气呵成，正文324字，一字不错。随后，他又即席写了一篇字字玑珠、精彩绝伦的后记：“公元二零零六年，岁在丙戍之冬。余自京华南来古城绍兴，有幸瞻仰兰亭胜地，以了多年之夙愿。遥想当年书圣王羲之于此作《兰亭集序》，至今仍可振聋发聩，启迪后世，此乃千古之雄文也。而今斯文扫地、物欲横流之际，何不来此澡身浴德，涤其污垢，还其清白也。慈恭书王羲之《兰亭集序》，以表敬仰之忱！奈逸笔草草，殊不成体，唯恐贻笑大方，尚祈诸方家不吝赐正。是为记。”
2010年，年近八旬的刘恪山自感精力大不如前，感到有必要把已发表的文章整理、修正，择其较好的选编成集，一本50万字的《刘恪山文集》。[3]
2011年4月在《山西省快乐读书我们在行动暨世界读书日报告会》上的演讲。他时年80岁，不拿讲稿，引经据典，侃侃而谈。他讲到山西的古人柳宗元、王勃、王维、狄仁杰、司马光，讲到“天下第一村”闻喜裴柏村……一宗宗，一件件，如数家珍。
2012年7月《刘恪山文集》出版。
2012年4月16日《三晋都市报》书画版发表了《意飘云物外诗寄画图中——记著名书画家、工艺美术家、美术评论家、摄影家、中国少先队队徽设计者刘恪山》一文。
2012年11月24日，湘阴举行纪念左宗棠诞辰200周年系列活动，81岁的刘恪山携花鸟画家于国森从北京赶来参加此次纪念活动，将“左宗棠故居”水彩画捐赠给了湘阴这片故土。
2013年1月31日因病医治无效于北京逝世，享年82岁。
主要成就
60年代以来在晋南收集民间刺绣原作多件，整理研究并精心摹绘百幅“晋南民间刺绣图案”以各种画法追求刺绣的质感，几可乱真，博得中外专家高度赞赏。
70年代创作大型雕漆画“黄河瀑布”、“黄河不夜”两次入选“全国工艺美术展览”，在中国民族文化宫和中国美术馆展出，国内外报刊多次发表。
80年代以来刘恪山的书法作品多次参加全国性和一些国际性的书法展览。在共青城“胡耀邦同志陵园”及杭州西湖、湖北鄂州、深圳、洪洞、临汾、万荣、陕西、湖南、广东、黑龙江等名胜古迹处，均有书法作品刻碑。其书法作品有数百幅赠送日本朝野人士。篆刻作品高雅俊秀，曾为国内外名人及友人作印千余方。
他善文，曾为董寿平、王盛烈、杨力舟、曾景初、于国森、邓明阁、林时九、裴玉林、刘正宝、雷崇善、村上三岛（日本）等30多位中外书画家的书写过前言和序言评介等。
他善摄影，一生在报刊上发表摄影作品2000多幅，20多种辞典刊登了他的条目。
刘恪山撰写的有关民间工艺美术评论文章多次在《人民日报》等大报刊上发表各种文章约20多万字。尤其是为中国书画大师董寿平写了近二十多万字的评介文章，在中外报刊上和书籍中发表。应邀参与《中国实用大百科辞典》中的美术、书法、篆刻、摄影部分的辞条编撰工作，约有30多万字出版。还出版有《董寿平传略》及《书法教程》（部分）《书画大师董寿平》等。

Person of county of shade of Hunan Province Hunan. The architect of badge of Chinese Young Pioneers team. Arts and crafts of standing director, China learns committee of job of celebrity of society of academician of arts and crafts of Chinese artist academician, Chinese calligrapher academician, China, China vice director of council of civilian arts and crafts. He is good at research of arts and crafts of lacquer painting of watercolour drawing from nature, carve, folk, calligraphy, seal cutting, photography, art commenting on. His watercolour drawing from nature is in for many times " People's Daily " , publish on media of each big the press such as the CCTV.
Was born in sweet old and well-known family of book of county of shade of Hunan Province Hunan on September 18, 1931, father is Liu Kuang of patriarch of revolution of laborious the last of the twelve Earthly Branches. [2]
1950, because one is believed by northeast Lu Xun literary institute abnormality is admitted.
Was graduated from 1951 " northeast Lu Xun is literary institute " art ministry, northeastern region group allocates after appoint the job, hold the post of assistant of art of northeast youth press to edit.
Since 1951, liu Ke hill photographs for Chinese Young Pioneers all the time, the photograph that ever published activity of concerned China Young Pioneers in the press of China and foreign countries more than 2000.
Transfer is round 1954 in the center of " counsellor " magazine art editor, press photographer.
Maintained the interest of the party because of speak out from a sense of justice 1958, by the group central fault delimits for " right-wing " .
Shanxi of transfer to a lower level faced Yi county country to work two years 1959, work in house of culture of the county that face Yi after that.
Tone faced Fen area exhibition to hold the post of art 1964 overall design, successor deputy curator.
Corrected for its in the center of the group 1979 " right-wing " problem, cancel punish, regain primary level, work in the center of new recall group, still hold the post of " counsellor " group leader of magazine art group, make up appoint.
1980, there is oneself team badge because of the Young Pioneers of 12 socialism country at that time, round center leader feels our country also should have badge of his Young Pioneers team. Designing team badge is very professional thing, but know he is in the center of the group " old painter " , so the secretary is in a secretary to Hu Dehua finds him directly and let him assume this job in the center of the group at that time. After Liu Ke hill receives the job a bit not dare careless, this team badge should have political sex, ideological content already, due still decorate a gender, design the form of Cheng Wuxing, blaze, ribbon finally, it is on ' Chinese Young Pioneers ' 5 gold word. Five-pointed star also can say is a star on our ensign, torch represents the enthusiasm of Young Pioneers and hope, indicative Young Pioneer should do the great ideal of communistic career successor. The whole creation process of team badge is very successful, after 45 rough draft, in the center of the group with respect to final version. Chinese Young Pioneers badge was born so, this is the hair on eye preexistence bound one of badges with travel maximum amount.
Was judged to be 1989 read and edit advanced title.
The badge of Chinese Young Pioneers team that congress of countrywide Young Pioneers used Liu Ke hill formally to design through promulgating 1990. The badge of Chinese Young Pioneers team that congress of countrywide Young Pioneers used Liu Ke hill formally to design through promulgating 1990..
Emeritus 1992.
Published by hope press 1993 " the flower below sunshine -- work of photography of Liu Ke hill is chosen " an album of paintings.
Had the honor to win the State Council 1997 " the government is special and subsidiary " certificate and bonus, be judged to be " association of Chinese science and technology is advanced worker " , with commending he is the contribution that career of Chinese folk arts and crafts makes.
The CCTV was in in Feburary 1997 " the setting sun is red " in broadcasted the special report to him.
Shanxi TV station filmed for him in November 1999 " affection sends a river east " special subject broadcasts, introduce his artistic activity in Jin Na and grade, height evaluated his artistic achievement.
Published by Chinese youth press 2000 " an album of paintings of collect of work of brushwork of Liu Ke hill, calligraphy, seal cutting, photography " .
2006, chinese arts and crafts learns to award him " lifelong achievement award " .
On August 1, 2006 " reference news " newspaper problem is " Gan Weiru of bow one's head child ox " the achievement that introduced him with full page length.
In December 2006, he promotes orchid booth beauty spot to visit to carry on on invitation, amphitryon invites sincerely him to write " order of Lan Ting market " , make permanent commemoration day. He is written into a 2 length with much rice to coil with 35 minutes of time only " order of Lan Ting market " , and write completely by memorial back, get sth done without any letup, text 324 words, one word is right. Subsequently, he wrote word of a word extemporarily again of Ji bead, wonderful unsurpassed adscript: "The Christian era 2006, year old the winter in third defend. Yu Zijing city carry on promotes Huanalaigu, xing Zhan admires orchid booth resort, with old long-cherished wish. Yao thinks in those days of Xi of book emperor king make hereat " order of Lan Ting market " , still can awaken the deaf up to now, edificatory later ages, the profound and powerful writing that this is through the ages also. Now gentle sweep the floor, content desire crosscurrent during, why to come heart of bath of this bath body, cleanse its bilge, return its innocence also. Of Xi of Ci Gongshu king " order of Lan Ting market " , sincere feeling with what the watch reveres! Carelessly of Nai ease pen, different won'ts do body, wary make a laughingstock of oneself before experts, not stint of Home Zhu Fang grants Shang Qi. Be to write down. Be to write down..
2010, year before the Liu Ke hill of nearly 8 a period of ten days is inferior to from sense energy muscularity, feel be necessary to arrange the article that already published, amend, choose its are better anthology write part, of a 500 thousand word " collected works of Liu Ke hill " . [3]
Was in in April 2011 " Shanxi province joy reads we read in the action and world day of seminar " the speech that attend. When him, do not take lecture notes, cite the classics, speak with fervor and assurance. The ancients Liu Zongyuan that he tells Shanxi, Wang Bo, Wang Wei, Di Renjie, minister light, tell " the world the first village " Wen Xipei Bai Cun... , , very familiar with sth.
In July 2012 " collected works of Liu Ke hill " publish.
On April 16, 2012 " 3 advance Metropolis Daily " edition of painting and calligraphy was published " meaning wave the poem outside cloud content sends picture in -- write down Young Pioneers of essayist of home of home of famous painting and calligraphy, arts and crafts, art, photographer, China hill of Liu Ke of team badge architect " one article.
On November 24, 2012, hunan shade holds birthday of commemorative Zun Zongtang 200 years series activity, liu Ke hill of 81 years old carries Yu Guosen of painter of painting of flowers and birds in traditional Chinese style to come from Beijing attend to commemorate an activity this, will " Zun Zongtang former residence " aquarelle donated Hunan shade this native land.
On January 31, 2013 due to illness cure disables to die at Beijing, die at the age of is 82 years old.
Main achievement
Civilian inwrought original work is collected in Jin Na since 60 time many, arrange research and elaborate copy draw 100 " design of the embroidery between Jin Namin " the simple sense that seeks embroidery with all sorts of brushwork, a few but look genuine, earn admiration of height of expert of China and foreign countries.
70 time create large carve lacquer painting " Yellow River chute " , " the Yellow River not night " two selected " countrywide arts and crafts is exhibited " , in China the Cultural Palace of the Nationalities and Chinese art gallery exhibit, domestic and international the press is published for many times.
Since 80 time the calligraphy work of Liu Ke hill attends for many times national and a few internationally calligraphy exhibition. In in all black town " cemetery of Comrade Hu Yaobang " reach Hangzhou west lake, Hubei E Zhou, Shenzhen, big hole, face the famous places and historical sites such as Fen, 10 thousand flourish, Shaanxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Heilongjiang to be in, all calligraphy work engraves tablet. Know exactly about sth of its calligraphy work gives public figure of Japanese the government and the public 100 times. Seal cutting work is decorous and pretty, ever made Yin Qianyu for domestic and international celebrity and friend square.
Article of his be apt to, ming Ge of Ceng Wei Dong Shouping, Wang Chenglie, Yang Lizhou, Ceng Jingchu, Yu Guosen, Deng, Lin Shijiu, Pei Yulin, .
His be apt to photographs, publish photography work on the press all one's life many 2000, a variety of 20 dictionaries published his entry.
The article of comment of concerned folk arts and crafts of compose of Liu Ke hill is in for many times " People's Daily " etc all sorts of articles are published to make an appointment with 20 much words on big the press. Wrote the review article of nearly two words for Dong Shouping of Great Master of Chinese painting and calligraphy especially, go up in the press of China and foreign countries and publish in the book. Participate in on invitation " China is practical big 100 divisions dictionary " the demit of part of medium art, calligraphy, seal cutting, photography make up write the work, about 30 much words are published. Still publish have " Dong Shouping biography brief " reach " calligraphy tutorial " (part) " Dong Shouping of Great Master of painting and calligraphy " etc.