plate no. 6293
Painting after Shitao’s Wilderness Colors
Chang Dai-chien, 1930
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the outline of the eggplants and stems.
- step 02
Mix a light wash of purple for the base color of the eggplants.
- step 03
Apply the purple wash to the eggplants, leaving some areas lighter for highlights.
- step 04
Add a touch of red to the purple wash and apply it to create subtle variations in color.
- step 05
Mix a light wash of blue-green for the stems.
- step 06
Apply the blue-green wash to the stems, varying the intensity of the color.
- step 07
Use a darker ink to add details to the stems and create the tie.
- step 08
Add the calligraphy using black ink and a fine brush.
color palette
primary · purple · blue-green · black
secondary · red
Mix purple by combining red and blue. Create variations in the purple by adding more red or blue. Achieve the blue-green by mixing blue and green, diluting with water to achieve a light wash.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·ink wash
- ·line work
- ·color layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the colors and losing the transparency of the washes.
- →Using too much water and creating muddy colors.
- →Making the lines too thick and losing the delicacy of the brushwork.
materials
surface · Rice paper
required
- ·Chinese painting brushes (fine and medium)
- ·Ink sticks or bottled black ink
- ·Watercolors (purple, blue, green, red)
- ·Water container
- ·Mixing palette
- ·Rice paper or watercolor paper
- ·Felt mat or absorbent cloth
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Brush rest
- ·Weights to hold down the paper
Use high-quality rice paper for best results. Experiment with different types of brushes to find the ones that work best for you.
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