plate no. 0000

22. Hiroo on Furukawa River

oilUkiyo-elandscapebridgeriverlandscapetreesskybuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes. It will also help with color mixing to achieve subtle gradations in the sky and water.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the bridge and river.
step 02
Block in the sky with a gradient from red to light pink/white.
step 03
Paint the distant hills and trees with muted greens and blues, using lighter values for areas further away.
step 04
Add the buildings and trees in the midground, using slightly darker and more saturated greens.
step 05
Paint the river with varying shades of blue and gray, reflecting the sky and surrounding landscape.
step 06
Add the bridge, paying attention to the perspective and the reflections in the water.
step 07
Add details such as figures on the bridge and in the landscape.
step 08
Refine the colors and values, adding highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · red · blue · green

secondary · white · gray · brown

Mix various shades of green by combining blue and yellow, and adjust the values by adding white or black. Create the sky gradient by blending red and white, gradually adding more white as you move down the canvas.

techniques