Chinoiserie Composition 28 June 2024

Here is the end-to-end process for painting a Chinoiserie composition.

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Level: intermediate.

These is the first video tutorial I have created with the sound on. Thank you for your understanding.

Materials List

Paint brushes for Chinese Art, which you can find online.You need two water containers one to rinse your brush and one to pick up clean water.
Watercolor paint brushes. Large brushes for the background.
Paint pallet, which for me is a clear white plate on which I can squeeze the paint and mix colors.
Paint. I use Marie's Gouache, the set of 36 colors. When I refer to color names in the video, it is implied that it is Marie's Gouache.
Watercolor paper. I used Arches HOT pressed 300 gsm 18in x 24in

Reference image

Here is the reference image. You are welcome to use it, if you want to paint along.

Short intro on the painting

Part 1 - The Background

This first video on the background explains the generic process for painting the background.

Part 2 - The background continued

I had several trials at the background color, trying to find the right tone of jade green. I just kept changing my mind... 😅

Interlude

Before we start painting the leaves I wanted to talk about the color mix for the greens.

Part 3 - Detail on the branch

Starting on the bark of the branch...

Part 4 - The branch

Continuing on the bark of the tree...

Part 5

skipped (read below)

Part 6 - The darker part of the top leaf

⚠️ I had originally tried a tint of green (a minty green) on the leaf but I didn't like it so in the video after this one (part 7) you will see that I am repainting the lighter part of the leaf.

On this video, I am laying the darker shade of green.

Part 7 - The darker part of the top leaf

As mentioned above, I am repainting the lighter part of the leaf. I added a bit of grey into the mix to tone it down.

Part 8 - The darker part of the top leaf

Going back with the dark green.

Part 9 - The other leaves

Revisiting the colors of some of the leaves.

Part 11 The top flower, the light yellow tone.

Note Part 10 is skipped, it is actually the interlude above between parts 2 and 3.

Here, I am using a yellow tint, i.e. a mix of yellow and white to paint the background of the flower.

Part 12 - Advice for the petals

Part 13 - The saturated yellow for the base of the petals

Part 14 - Clarifications on the petals

Note: Because this is a short video (less than a minute), YouTube automatically classifies it as a "short"... which is why the formatting has changed. Sorry I didn't have a say on the way the aspect ration of video.

Part 16 - Starting the bird.

Note: Part 15 was skipped.

Part 17 - The long feathers on the wings

Part 18 - The back the bird and the smaller feathers.

⚠️Note: I later decide to opt for for Marie's Prussian Blue (a very dark blue) for the top feathers and the back of the bird. You should watch this video more "for info" but do not use the same color as I will be changing it later.