plate no. 8164

Fuji from Okitsu

Shotei Takahashi, 1929

oilShin-hangamarinamountainwaterrocksskyboatswaves

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle gradients and in creating the illusion of depth through atmospheric perspective. It will also help with understanding how to simplify complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: mountain, rocks, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with light orange and blue, blending for a gradient.
step 03
Paint the distant mountains with a muted blue-grey.
step 04
Establish the base color of the water with varying shades of blue.
step 05
Add the dark rocks, paying attention to their jagged shapes.
step 06
Paint the whitecaps and highlights on the waves using short, broken strokes.
step 07
Add the small boats in the distance.
step 08
Refine details and add final highlights.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Titanium white · Yellow ochre

secondary · Burnt sienna · Payne's grey · Ultramarine blue

Mix Prussian blue and white for the water and mountain shadows. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the sky. Payne's grey can be added to blues for darker tones.

techniques

·Color blending
·Atmospheric perspective
·Broken brushstrokes
·Layering
·Simplification of forms

common pitfalls

→Overworking the colors and losing the subtle gradients
→Making the rocks too uniform in color
→Not capturing the movement of the water
→Incorrect proportions of the mountain

materials

surface · Stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas
·Acrylic paints (Prussian blue, Titanium white, Yellow ochre, Burnt sienna, Payne's grey)
·Round brushes (various sizes)
·Flat brushes (various sizes)
·Palette
·Water container
·Paper towels