plate no. 6042
Irozaki Point
Unichi Hiratsuka, 1940
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students practice layering flat colors and simplifying complex shapes into geometric forms. It's a good exercise in understanding positive and negative space.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the cliffs, island, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light green.
- step 03
Paint the sea with a dark blue, ensuring a clean horizon line.
- step 04
Apply the base color for the cliffs (tan/yellow).
- step 05
Add shadows to the cliffs using a dark blue/black mix.
- step 06
Paint the trees with green, using simple shapes.
- step 07
Add white and green accents to represent waves.
- step 08
Refine edges and add small details.
color palette
primary · dark blue · light green · tan · black
secondary · white · dark green
Mix the cliff shadows by combining dark blue and black. Adjust the tan color with small amounts of yellow and white for highlights.
techniques
- ·flat color application
- ·geometric simplification
- ·layering
- ·negative space
- ·color blocking
common pitfalls
- →overcomplicating the shapes
- →uneven color application
- →muddying the colors
- →lack of contrast
materials
surface · canvas panel
required
- ·acrylic paints
- ·canvas panel
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·ruler
- ·masking tape
Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing. Consider using a larger brush for the sky and sea to achieve a smoother finish.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
