plate no. 7811

Mists on the mountain

oilInk and wash paintinglandscapemountainstreesmistlandscapesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand the use of value to create depth and atmosphere, as well as practice brush control for creating organic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains and trees.
step 02
Dilute black ink with water to create a light gray wash.
step 03
Apply the light wash to the entire paper to create a base tone.
step 04
Add darker washes to define the mountains and trees, building up layers of value.
step 05
Use a dry brush technique to create texture on the mountains and trees.
step 06
Create the mist effect by leaving areas of the paper untouched or using very diluted washes.
step 07
Add details to the trees with a fine brush.
step 08
Allow to dry completely.

color palette

primary · black ink · white (paper)

secondary · light gray washes

Achieve various shades of gray by diluting black ink with different amounts of water. Start with very diluted washes and gradually add more ink to darken the values.

techniques

·ink wash
·dry brush
·layering
·value control
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Using too much ink at once
→Not allowing washes to dry completely
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing

materials

surface · Rice paper or watercolor paper

required

·Chinese calligraphy brush (various sizes)
·Black ink
·Water
·Water container
·Rice paper or watercolor paper
·Felt mat or newspaper (to protect the surface)
·Palette or small dish for mixing ink

optional

·Palette knife
·Ink stones
·Paper weights

Using high-quality rice paper will allow for better ink absorption and blending. Experiment with different types of brushes to achieve various effects.

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