plate no. 1736

Flowers

oilExpressionismflower paintingflowersleavescalligraphyplantsstems

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop brush control and learn to create expressive lines with varying pressure. 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 — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition of the flowers, leaves, and stems.
step 02
Mix the black ink or paint to the desired consistency (not too watery).
step 03
Using a round brush, begin outlining the flowers with confident, varied strokes.
step 04
Add the orange details to the flower centers and stems.
step 05
Paint the blue-green stems with a diluted wash.
step 06
Add the darker leaves and branches, varying the pressure to create different line weights.
step 07
Carefully add the calligraphy using a fine brush and black ink.
step 08
Allow to dry completely.

color palette

primary · black · orange · light blue

secondary · white (of the paper)

The blue-green can be achieved by mixing a small amount of blue and green with a lot of water. The orange can be adjusted by adding a touch of red or yellow.

techniques

·sumi-e
·line variation
·wash
·negative space
·calligraphy

common pitfalls

→Using too much water, which can cause the ink to bleed.
→Hesitating with brushstrokes, resulting in shaky lines.
→Overworking the painting with too many details.
→Not leaving enough negative space.

materials

surface · Watercolor paper or rice paper

required

·Chinese calligraphy brush (or round brush)
·Black ink (or black watercolor/acrylic)
·Orange watercolor/acrylic
·Light blue watercolor/acrylic
·Watercolor paper or rice paper
·Water
·Palette or mixing tray

optional

·Ink stone
·Felt mat
·Water dropper

Experiment with different types of brushes and paper to find what works best. Diluting the ink or paint with water is key to achieving the desired wash effect.

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