plate no. 3453

Landscape

Qi Baishi, 1909

oilInk and wash paintinglandscapetreesboatswaterlandscapesky

some experience helpful

This painting helps students learn to control brushstrokes for varying line weights and practice creating depth through atmospheric perspective using diluted ink washes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the trees and boats.
step 02
Begin with the sky, applying a very diluted wash of black ink, lighter towards the horizon.
step 03
Add the distant boats with thin, light strokes, suggesting their shapes and sails.
step 04
Paint the trees in the foreground, starting with the trunks and branches using thicker, darker ink.
step 05
Add the willow leaves with quick, downward strokes, varying the pressure for different thicknesses.
step 06
Paint the boats closer to the viewer with darker, bolder strokes, adding details to the hulls and sails.
step 07
Add subtle shadows under the boats and trees to ground them.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · black ink · white (of the paper)

secondary · gray (diluted black ink)

Vary the dilution of black ink with water to create different shades of gray. Use very little ink for the sky and distant objects, and more concentrated ink for the foreground elements.

techniques

·ink wash
·dry brush
·varying line weight
·atmospheric perspective
·calligraphic brushstrokes

common pitfalls

→Using too much ink, resulting in a flat, heavy image.
→Making the lines too uniform, losing the sense of spontaneity and energy.
→Overworking the details, which can make the painting look stiff and unnatural.
→Not creating enough contrast between the foreground and background, flattening the perspective.