plate no. 5123

Distant View of Shijo in the Early Morning

Asano Takeji, 1931

oilSōsaku hangalandscaperiverbuildingsskycityscapearchitecturewater

suitable for beginners

This painting provides practice in color mixing to achieve muted tones and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth. Students will also learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and forms.

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 major shapes of the buildings and river.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light, muted yellow or beige.
step 03
Paint the river with a base layer of light blue-green, adding darker shades towards the foreground.
step 04
Add the green areas on either side of the river, varying the shades slightly to create depth.
step 05
Paint the buildings in the background with light, desaturated colors to create atmospheric perspective.
step 06
Add details to the buildings in the foreground, such as windows and architectural features.
step 07
Include the telephone pole and the small figures near the river's edge.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and form.

color palette

primary · light blue-green · beige · light gray

secondary · light yellow · pale green · brown

Mix white with small amounts of blue, green, and yellow to achieve the muted, pastel-like colors. Use a touch of brown or gray to desaturate the colors further.

techniques