plate no. 0307

Clearing Weather after Snow on Summit of Mt. Fuji

Tomioka Tessai, 1919

oilNanga (Bunjinga)landscapemountainssnowskysunlandscapebuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand the use of value to create depth and form, as well as practice brush control for expressive linework and washes. It also introduces the concept of atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic mountain shapes and horizon line.
step 02
Dilute black ink or watercolor to create a light gray wash for the sky and distant mountains.
step 03
Apply darker washes to define the shadows and contours of the mountains, building up layers gradually.
step 04
Use a dry brush technique with thicker ink or watercolor to create texture on the snow-covered areas.
step 05
Add small details like buildings and trees with a fine brush.
step 06
Paint the sun with a solid red color.
step 07
Add the calligraphy elements with a fine brush and black ink.
step 08
Allow to dry completely.

color palette

primary · black · white · red

secondary · gray

Varying shades of gray are achieved by diluting black ink or watercolor with water. Mix a small amount of red with white for a muted pink if desired.

techniques

·wash
·dry brush
·layering
·atmospheric perspective
·calligraphy

common pitfalls

→Using too much water, which can cause the ink or watercolor to bleed.
→Making the values too uniform, which will flatten the image.
→Overworking the details, which can make the painting look stiff.
→Not planning the composition carefully, which can result in a cluttered or unbalanced image.