plate no. 2696
Rooster
Xu Beihong, 1943
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop brush control and learn to create form with varying ink washes. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a subject with minimal detail.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the rooster, rock, and bamboo.
- step 02
Begin with diluted washes to establish the light areas of the rock and rooster's white feathers.
- step 03
Layer darker washes to define the shadows and contours of the rock and rooster's body.
- step 04
Use bold, confident strokes to paint the rooster's tail feathers with black ink.
- step 05
Add details to the rooster's head, comb, and beak using red and yellow ink.
- step 06
Paint the bamboo leaves with light blue and green washes, using varying pressure to create depth.
- step 07
Add final details and refine the edges of the composition.
- step 08
Allow to dry completely.
color palette
primary · black ink · white (paper) · light brown
secondary · red · yellow · light blue · light green
Mix diluted black ink with water to create various shades of gray for the washes. Use very small amounts of red and yellow for the rooster's head.
techniques
- ·ink wash
- ·dry brush
- ·varying ink density
- ·calligraphic brushstrokes
- ·negative space
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the washes and losing the transparency of the ink.
- →Creating muddy colors by mixing too many colors together.
- →Being too hesitant with brushstrokes, resulting in a stiff and unnatural look.
- →Failing to capture the essence of the subject with minimal detail.
materials
surface · Rice paper
required
- ·Chinese calligraphy brushes (various sizes)
- ·Black ink
- ·Watercolor paints (red, yellow, blue, green)
- ·Water container
- ·Mixing palette
- ·Rice paper or watercolor paper
- ·Felt mat or newspaper (to protect the surface)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·seal paste
- ·seal stone
Use high-quality rice paper for best results. Experiment with different types of brushes to achieve varying effects.
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