plate no. 3690
Deer
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in ink wash techniques and capturing dynamic poses of animals with simplified brushstrokes. It also encourages understanding of atmospheric perspective using subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the trees, deer, and landscape.
- step 02
Apply a diluted wash of black ink to establish the background mountains.
- step 03
Use darker ink to define the tree trunks and branches, varying the pressure for line weight.
- step 04
Paint the deer with light washes of brown and ochre, adding details like spots and antlers.
- step 05
Create the grassy foreground with quick, gestural strokes of yellow and brown ink.
- step 06
Add subtle washes of gray and blue to the tree foliage to create depth.
- step 07
Refine details and add highlights with dry brush techniques.
- step 08
Allow to dry completely.
color palette
primary · black ink · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · gray · light blue
Achieve the various shades of brown by diluting burnt umber with water. Mix small amounts of blue with gray to create atmospheric effects in the foliage.
techniques
- ·ink wash
- ·dry brush
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·gestural brushstrokes
- ·varying line weight
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the spontaneity of the brushstrokes.
- →Using too much water and creating muddy colors.
- →Failing to capture the dynamic poses of the deer.
- →Not varying the line weight enough, resulting in a flat image.
materials
surface · watercolor paper
required
- ·Chinese calligraphy brush
- ·black ink
- ·burnt umber watercolor
- ·yellow ochre watercolor
- ·watercolor paper
- ·water container
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·ruler
Use a good quality watercolor paper that can handle multiple washes. Experiment with different brushes to achieve various effects.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
