plate no. 6699

Fuji from Lake Shojin

Shotei Takahashi, 1929

oilShin-hangalandscapemountainlaketreesskyboatslandscape

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmospheric perspective, as well as simplifying complex shapes into basic forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountain, trees, and lake.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, fading towards the horizon.
step 03
Add the mountain, using a light gray for the snow and darker grays for the shadows.
step 04
Paint the lake with varying shades of blue, reflecting the sky.
step 05
Add the dark trees in the foreground, paying attention to their branching structure.
step 06
Include the distant hills and the small boats on the lake.
step 07
Add details to the trees and the shoreline.
step 08
Refine the colors and values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · burnt umber · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of blue and gray by combining white, blue, and black. Use burnt umber to create the brown tones for the trees.

techniques

·layering
·atmospheric perspective
·color mixing
·simplification
·blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the original.
→Not creating enough contrast between the foreground and background.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not reflecting the muted tones of the original.
→Failing to establish a clear focal point.