plate no. 9911
Scholar and Figure
some experience helpful
This painting is great for learning expressive brushwork and how to create form with minimal shading. Students will practice controlling the amount of water in their brush to achieve different values of ink.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the figures and objects.
- step 02
Begin with the lightest washes of ink to establish the overall values.
- step 03
Add darker ink washes to define the forms and create shadows.
- step 04
Use dry brush techniques to add texture to the clothing and objects.
- step 05
Outline key areas with a fine brush and dark ink to create definition.
- step 06
Add the calligraphy and seals in the upper left corner.
- step 07
Allow the ink to dry completely.
color palette
primary · black ink · white (paper)
secondary · light brown · red (for seals)
Vary the dilution of black ink with water to create different shades of gray. Mix a small amount of brown with black ink for subtle variations.
techniques
- ·sumi-e
- ·dry brush
- ·ink wash
- ·line drawing
- ·calligraphy
common pitfalls
- →Using too much water and creating muddy washes.
- →Overworking the details and losing the spontaneity.
- →Not varying the ink values enough.
- →Making the lines too uniform and lacking expression.
materials
surface · rice paper
required
- ·Chinese calligraphy brush
- ·sumi ink
- ·rice paper
- ·water container
- ·felt mat
- ·ink stone
optional
- ·seal paste
- ·seal stone
- ·weights for paper
Use a soft brush that can hold a lot of ink. Experiment with different types of rice paper to find one that suits your style.
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