plate no. 1895

A Bird

oilExpressionismanimal paintingowlbirdbranchanimaleyes

suitable for beginners

This painting helps students practice expressive brushstrokes and controlling the amount of water in their brush for varying line weights. It also introduces the concept of negative space and simplified forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 4 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the owl's body, head circle, and branch.
step 02
Using a large brush, paint the dark areas of the owl with diluted black ink, focusing on expressive strokes.
step 03
Add the details of the eyes, beak, and feathers with finer brushstrokes, varying the pressure for different line thicknesses.
step 04
Paint the branch with light brown ink, adding small turquoise dots for the buds.
step 05
Add the circular outline around the owl's head with a light grey wash.
step 06
Allow the painting to dry completely.
step 07
Add any final details or corrections as needed.

color palette

primary · black ink · white (paper)

secondary · light brown · turquoise · yellow

Dilute black ink with water to create varying shades of grey. Mix small amounts of turquoise and yellow for the eye color.

techniques

·sumi-e
·dry brush
·wet-on-dry
·ink wash
·expressive brushstrokes

common pitfalls

→Using too much water, causing the ink to bleed uncontrollably.
→Overworking the details, losing the spontaneity of the brushstrokes.
→Not varying the pressure on the brush, resulting in flat and lifeless lines.
→Making the owl too symmetrical.

materials

surface · Rice paper

required

·Chinese calligraphy brush (large and small)
·Black ink
·Watercolor paints (turquoise, yellow, brown)
·Water container
·Ink stone or palette
·Rice paper or watercolor paper
·Felt mat or newspaper

optional

·palette knife
·masking fluid

Experiment with different types of rice paper to find one that suits your style. Use a felt mat or newspaper underneath the paper to absorb excess ink.

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