plate no. 4304
Megane Bridge
Unichi Hiratsuka, 1935
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in creating a sense of depth through overlapping shapes and varying sizes. It also helps develop skills in simplifying complex forms into basic geometric shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
1
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the bridges, water, and surrounding landscape.
- step 02
Divide the bridge into individual brick shapes.
- step 03
Outline the main areas with a fine liner.
- step 04
Fill in the sky with a light yellow or cream color.
- step 05
Paint the water with a light blue, adding darker blue for shadows and ripples.
- step 06
Color the bricks with a combination of orange, gray, and brown.
- step 07
Add green for the vegetation, varying the shades for depth.
- step 08
Add the figure on the bridge with black.
color palette
primary · light blue · orange-brown · gray
secondary · light yellow · dark blue · green
Mix light blue with white for the water's surface. Create brick colors by mixing orange with brown and gray. Use darker shades of blue and green for shadows.
techniques
- ·flat color application
- ·shape simplification
- ·layering
- ·outlining
- ·color blocking
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the brick patterns.
- →Using too many colors.
- →Losing the overall shape of the bridge.
- →Not creating enough contrast in the water.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper
- ·watercolor paints
- ·fine liner pen
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·water container
optional
- ·masking tape
- ·ruler
- ·color pencils
Use a heavier weight paper to prevent buckling when applying watercolor. A fine liner pen is essential for creating clean outlines.
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