plate no. 4861

Ancient pine and juniper on the west hills

Xu Beihong, 1918

oilRomanticismlandscapetreesmountainswaterfallrockslandscapefoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes to create depth and texture, and in rendering complex organic forms like trees and rocks. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: trees, mountains, and waterfall.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of diluted brown and gray to the sky and distant mountains.
step 03
Begin layering washes on the trees, starting with light browns and gradually adding darker tones for shadows and texture.
step 04
Paint the waterfall with light blues and whites, suggesting movement and flow.
step 05
Add details to the rocks and foreground, using a dry brush technique to create texture.
step 06
Refine the tree branches and foliage with small, precise brushstrokes.
step 07
Add final highlights to the water and rocks to enhance the sense of light.
step 08
Evaluate and adjust values and details as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

Mix browns and grays by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and ivory black in varying proportions. Add small amounts of ultramarine blue to create cooler shadows. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques

·layering washes
·dry brush
·atmospheric perspective
·rendering organic forms
·value control

common pitfalls

→Overworking details too early
→Creating flat, lifeless colors
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast
→Failing to capture the texture of the trees and rocks

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper 140lb
·round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 10)
·watercolor paints
·palette
·water container
·paper towels
·pencil

optional

·masking fluid
·palette knife
·ruler

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for multiple washes. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.

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