plate no. 0883

Viewing Fish at Flower Harbour

Wu Guanzhong, 1977

oilImpressionismanimal paintingfishwaterpondfigurestreeslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes and creating dynamic compositions with repeated elements. It also encourages expressive brushwork and capturing movement.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition: the pond's circular pattern, the shoreline, and the tree branch.
step 02
Apply a diluted gray wash to the entire pond area, creating the base for the water.
step 03
Add darker gray washes in concentric circles to define the ripples and depth of the water.
step 04
Use white to highlight the crests of the ripples, creating contrast and a sense of movement.
step 05
Paint the shoreline with a dark gray/black wash, adding a hint of blue for the figures.
step 06
Add the tree branch with bold black strokes, varying the pressure to create thin and thick lines.
step 07
Paint the red fish with confident brushstrokes, varying their size and orientation to suggest movement.
step 08
Add final details like the green reeds and subtle reflections.

color palette

primary · gray · red · black · white

secondary · green · blue

Achieve the gray tones by mixing black and white in varying ratios. The red should be a vibrant, slightly warm red. Mix a touch of blue with black for the shoreline.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·layering washes
·expressive brushstrokes
·negative space

common pitfalls

→Overworking the washes, leading to a muddy appearance.
→Making the fish too uniform in size and shape.
→Creating a static composition by not varying the brushstrokes.
→Losing the sense of depth in the water.

materials

surface · Watercolor paper or rice paper

required

·Watercolor paper or rice paper
·Watercolor paints (gray, red, black, white)
·Round brushes (various sizes)
·Water container
·Palette
·Paper towels
·Masking tape

optional

·Chinese calligraphy brush
·Ink
·Palette knife

Using high-quality watercolor paper will help prevent buckling and allow for smoother washes. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying line weights.

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