plate no. 0113
Self-portrait (detail)
Chen Hongshou, 1635
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes, creating texture with brushstrokes, and understanding atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in figure drawing and rendering drapery.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: figure, tree, mountains.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted brown/beige for the background.
- step 03
Layer washes to define the mountains and landscape, building up darker values.
- step 04
Paint the figure's robe with a medium-toned wash, adding shadows and folds.
- step 05
Add details to the tree trunk, using small circular strokes.
- step 06
Paint the foliage with varied greens and reds, using small brushstrokes.
- step 07
Add details to the figure's face and clothing.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and add final touches.
color palette
primary · sepia · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · viridian · scarlet red · yellow ochre
Mix sepia with white for the background and robe. Use black sparingly for shadows. Mix viridian and yellow ochre for various greens.
techniques
- ·wash layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering folds
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early
- →Using too much black
- →Not diluting the washes enough
- →Ignoring the overall composition
materials
surface · watercolor paper or rice paper
required
- ·Watercolor paper or rice paper
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Sepia ink or watercolor
- ·Ivory black ink or watercolor
- ·Titanium white gouache or watercolor
- ·Water container
- ·Palette
- ·Soft cloth or paper towels
optional
- ·Chinese calligraphy brush
- ·Palette knife
- ·Masking fluid
Use high-quality paper that can withstand multiple washes. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.
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