plate no. 6501

19. Dam on the Otonashi River at Ōji, Known as The Great Waterfall

woodblock printUkiyo-elandscaperiverwaterfalltreeslandscapefiguressky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and understanding atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering simplified forms of nature.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the river, waterfall, and major landforms.
step 02
Block in the sky with a gradient from dark blue to light pink.
step 03
Establish the base colors for the river (dark blue), land (greens), and trees (greens and browns).
step 04
Add details to the land, including the path, trees, and buildings.
step 05
Paint the waterfall with vertical strokes of white and light blue.
step 06
Add the cherry blossoms with small, delicate strokes of pink and white.
step 07
Include the figures in the river and near the waterfall.
step 08
Refine the details and add finishing touches, such as the textures of the trees and the reflections in the water.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Emerald green · Pink · White

secondary · Yellow ochre · Burnt umber · Light blue

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Achieve the pink for the blossoms by diluting red with white. Create depth in the river by layering dark blues and adding subtle highlights.

techniques