plate no. 3508

Lotus under the sun

Wu Guanzhong, 2001

oilInk and wash paintingflower paintinglotusflowerswaterleavesstemspond

some experience helpful

This painting is a good exercise in simplifying complex forms and using expressive brushstrokes to capture the essence of the subject. Students will learn to control the flow of ink and water to create subtle tonal variations and dynamic lines.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the lotus flowers and stems.
step 02
Begin with the background washes, using diluted gray ink to create a sense of depth.
step 03
Paint the lotus petals with light pink, using a wet-on-wet technique to blend the colors.
step 04
Add darker pink accents to the petals to create form and dimension.
step 05
Use black ink to paint the stems, varying the thickness and pressure of the brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the lotus seed pods with gray and green ink.
step 07
Include small green accents to represent leaves and other foliage.
step 08
Add the red seal in the top left corner.