plate no. 2735
Isahaya Spectacles Bridge
Unichi Hiratsuka, 1940
suitable for beginners
This painting is great for learning about color blocking and creating a sense of depth using simple shapes. Students can practice linework and creating textures with hatching and cross-hatching.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
1
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: the bridge, mountains, buildings, and water.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: yellow for the sky and water, light blue for the sky, and darker blue for the mountains.
- step 03
Add the details of the bridge, including the stones and railings, using black or dark gray.
- step 04
Define the buildings with simple shapes and colors, adding details like roofs and windows.
- step 05
Add the reeds and grasses along the water's edge using short, vertical strokes.
- step 06
Refine the linework and add any final details, such as reflections in the water.
- step 07
Add the mountain details.
- step 08
Add the foliage details.
color palette
primary · yellow · light blue · gray
secondary · dark blue · brown · green
Mix light blue by adding white to a darker blue. Create variations of gray by mixing black and white in different proportions.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·linework
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·simplified shapes
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the details.
- →Using too many colors.
- →Not simplifying the shapes enough.
- →Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints or acrylic paints
- ·round brush
- ·fine liner brush
- ·pencil
- ·eraser
- ·ruler
- ·watercolor paper or canvas
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·masking tape
- ·color pencils
Use a limited palette of colors to simplify the process. Consider using a reference photo to guide your linework.
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