Lesson 47: How to Paint Waterfalls
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Rocks are the bone structure of mountains, and water formed the structure of rocks. For this reason the ancient Chinese landscape painters paid careful attention to painting waterfalls. There are several samples of waterfalls in this video-taped workshop lesson. You will learn the methods of painting waterfalls among rocks and cliffs, depicting flowing steams opening out into rapids, in traditional green and blue style as well as contemporary split brush techniques.
Video Length: 2.5 Hours
Assignments
1) Watch class video Part 1 and take notes on the method of drawing a stream in two sections; as for instance, a waterfall that opens on the top representing the source; another stream known to be the same water emerges from the water below. Each section of the stream has a different character. The waterfall on the top usually comes with overhanging cliffs. Note that the stream is usually represented as flowing nearly on a level, then falling over a cliff with an abrupt change of direction from the horizontal to vertical and to give it height and lift, make it disappears in mist or clouds at the middle of the mountain. Note also how to divide the stream as it comes through a valley to a fall at the mountain foot by introducing boulders that give it a winding effect or the appearance of rapids. Do some study of both overhanging waterfall on a cliff and a rapid stream at mountain foot divided by boulders.
2) Make a green and blue landscape painting after master Wei Zixi's "mountain Dwelling by a Waterfall". Step one: doing a composition sketch after the sample painting;
Step two: ink drawing from dark to light starting from the pines trees;
Step four: ink shaping the surface texture or shading the yin negative to foil out the yang positive side of rocks. Don not shading on on both sides of a contour.
Step Five: color wash with transparent colors(indigo+yellow, light umber)
Step Six: Apply opaque colors on the back side of the paper;
Step Seven, Accenting with cinnabar on dark trunk and embed opaques green or blue colors on the dark trees.
Diagrams and finished paintings seen in the video are included in the handouts.
.This is the DVD version. Click here to order the Download version .
Here is a trailer of this lesson.
VIDEO
