plate no. 3156
Fragrance of the Hot Spring
Torii Kotondo, 1930
some experience helpful
This painting offers a good opportunity to practice subtle color mixing and rendering smooth skin tones. Students can also learn about simplified backgrounds and creating a sense of depth with minimal detail.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
1
value contrast
2
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, background, and window.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of diluted tan or beige.
- step 03
Block in the figure's skin tone with a light, slightly pinkish-white.
- step 04
Add subtle shadows and highlights to the figure to define the form.
- step 05
Paint the hair with a flat black, adding a hint of blue or purple.
- step 06
Add the details of the hair ornaments with small brushes.
- step 07
Paint the window area with a light blue-green wash, then add the plant details.
- step 08
Refine the edges and details, paying attention to the overall balance of the composition.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · ivory black
secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · sap green
Mix white with a touch of raw umber and alizarin crimson for the skin tone. Use diluted raw umber for the background. Mix ultramarine blue and sap green for the window plants.
techniques
- ·smooth blending
- ·color layering
- ·limited palette
- ·negative space
- ·flat wash
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations.
- →Making the background too dark or distracting.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Using too much detail in the background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a smooth canvas for easier blending. Consider using a toned canvas to establish the background color more quickly.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
