plate no. 8191

Rooster and Hen

paperShin-hangaanimal paintingroosterhenbirdsanimalspoultry

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplified form representation and subtle value shading to create form. It also provides practice in achieving a smooth, even background wash.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the outlines of the rooster and hen, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Prepare a light gray wash for the background and apply it evenly, allowing it to dry completely.
step 03
Block in the white areas of the birds with a slightly off-white color, leaving areas for shading.
step 04
Add subtle shading to the white areas to create form, using a slightly darker gray or diluted black.
step 05
Paint the red crests and wattles of the birds with a flat red color.
step 06
Add details to the beaks and feet with yellow and brown.
step 07
Carefully paint the black tail feathers of the rooster, using a slightly diluted black for softer edges.
step 08
Add any final details and touch-ups as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · red

secondary · yellow · brown · light gray

The light gray background is achieved by diluting black with white. The subtle shading on the birds is created by adding small amounts of black to white.

techniques