plate no. 0368

Persona

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfiguresmasksperformancecostumesdrama

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning expressive brushstrokes and how to create dynamic compositions with figures. Students will also practice mixing skin tones and using line weight to define forms.

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 and placement of the figures.
step 02
Mix a light wash of diluted ink or watercolor for the skin tones.
step 03
Apply the skin tone wash, leaving some areas white for highlights.
step 04
Use thicker ink or watercolor to define the outlines of the figures and costumes.
step 05
Add details to the faces and costumes with fine brushstrokes.
step 06
Use dry brush technique for textures on the costumes and hair.
step 07
Add the calligraphy and seal in the upper right corner.
step 08
Let dry completely.

color palette

primary · black ink · light ochre · white

secondary · red · yellow

Skin tones are achieved by diluting ochre and adding small amounts of red. Black is used in varying dilutions to create different shades of gray.

techniques

·ink wash
·dry brush
·line drawing
·dilution
·calligraphy

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the spontaneity of the brushstrokes.
→Using too much water and creating muddy colors.
→Not varying the line weight enough, resulting in a flat image.
→Inaccurate proportions of the figures.

materials

surface · watercolor paper

required

·Chinese calligraphy brush (or round brush)
·Black ink (or watercolor)
·Watercolor paper
·Palette
·Water
·Paper towels
·Ochre watercolor
·Red watercolor

optional

·palette knife
·ruler

Use a good quality watercolor paper that can handle multiple washes. Experiment with different types of brushes to find the ones that work best for you.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein