plate no. 1881

Green wine

Qi Baishi, 1951

oilInk and wash paintingflower paintingflowerleavescupscalligraphyseal

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop brush control and learn to create depth and form using limited colors. It will also teach the basics of traditional Chinese painting composition.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the composition, including the flower, leaves, cups, and calligraphy placement.
step 02
Begin with the flower, using light red washes for the petals, building up the color gradually.
step 03
Paint the leaves with black ink, varying the tone by adjusting the water content.
step 04
Add the cups using light grey washes, paying attention to the form and highlights.
step 05
Carefully paint the calligraphy with black ink, focusing on the brushstrokes and character structure.
step 06
Add the red seal with a small brush and red ink.
step 07
Allow the painting to dry completely.
step 08
Add any final details or corrections as needed.

color palette

primary · red · black · grey

secondary · white (of the paper)

Use water to dilute the red and black inks to achieve various shades and tones. Mix black and white for the grey.

techniques

·ink wash
·dry brush
·calligraphy
·gradation
·varying ink density

common pitfalls

→Using too much water, causing the ink to bleed excessively.
→Applying colors too heavily, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
→Not paying attention to the brushstrokes, leading to a messy and uncontrolled look.
→Incorrectly copying the calligraphy, altering the meaning of the characters.