plate no. 5911
Heaven and Earth Glow Red
Fu Baoshi, 1964
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes, creating atmospheric perspective, and using varied brushstrokes to suggest texture and form.
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 composition, including the mountain, trees, and sun.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of diluted pink/red to the sky area.
- step 03
Add light grey washes to suggest the clouds and distant landscape.
- step 04
Using darker ink, define the shapes of the mountain and trees with varied brushstrokes.
- step 05
Layer washes of ink to build up depth and create shadows.
- step 06
Paint the sun with a saturated red, leaving some areas lighter to suggest form.
- step 07
Add details such as leaves and branches with small, precise brushstrokes.
- step 08
Incorporate the falling leaves and light rays using diluted washes.
color palette
primary · red · black · grey
secondary · pink · white
Achieve the grey tones by diluting black ink with water. Mix red with a touch of white for the pink sky.
techniques
- ·wash technique
- ·dry brush
- ·layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·varied brushstrokes
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Using too much water and losing control of the washes
- →Creating muddy colors
- →Not achieving enough contrast
materials
surface · Watercolor paper or rice paper
required
- ·Chinese ink
- ·Chinese painting brushes (various sizes)
- ·Watercolor paper or rice paper
- ·Water container
- ·Palette or mixing dish
- ·Red watercolor or ink
- ·White gouache or watercolor
optional
- ·Masking fluid
- ·Palette knife
- ·Spray bottle
Experiment with different types of paper to see how they affect the flow of the ink and washes. Use good quality brushes for better control.
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