plate no. 4777

Ikegami Honmonji

Hasui Kawase, 1931

oilShin-hangacityscapesnowtreesfiguresbuildingslandscapecityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to create the illusion of depth using value and color. It also provides practice in rendering detailed textures like snow on trees.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the tree, buildings, and figures.
step 02
Establish the background sky with a muted grey-blue tone.
step 03
Paint the distant trees and buildings using lighter, desaturated colors to create depth.
step 04
Add the main tree, paying attention to the shapes of the branches and the snow covering them.
step 05
Paint the fence and the gate, adding details like the posts and the roof.
step 06
Add the figures with umbrellas, using distinct colors for their clothing.
step 07
Paint the snow-covered ground, using shadows to create form and depth.
step 08
Add the falling snow with small white dots.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Titanium white · Burnt umber

secondary · Cadmium red · Yellow ochre · Sap green

Mix Prussian blue and white for the sky and distant trees. Use burnt umber and white for the tree trunk and fence. Add small amounts of red, yellow, and green to create the colors of the figures and umbrellas.

techniques

·Layering
·Dry brushing
·Pointillism
·Atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Making the snow too bright white, losing the subtle variations in tone.
→Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural look.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, making the distant elements too sharp and defined.
→Not paying attention to the shapes of the shadows on the snow.