plate no. 5328
Mister Fuji
Alfred Freddy Krupa, 1999
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing expressive brushstrokes and understanding value relationships to create depth. Students will learn to simplify a complex subject into essential shapes and tones.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 4 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the outline of the mountain and clouds with a pencil.
- step 02
Prepare diluted ink washes of varying strengths.
- step 03
Start with the lightest washes to define the sky and distant areas.
- step 04
Gradually build up darker values on the mountain, using broad brushstrokes.
- step 05
Use drier brushstrokes to create texture and suggest snow or rock formations.
- step 06
Add the darkest values to the mountain's peak and shadowed areas.
- step 07
Refine the edges and details with smaller brushes.
- step 08
Allow to dry completely.
color palette
primary · black ink · white (of paper)
secondary · gray (diluted ink)
Achieve various shades of gray by diluting black ink with water. Experiment with different ratios to create a range of values.
techniques
- ·ink wash
- ·dry brush
- ·value gradation
- ·expressive brushstrokes
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Using too much water and creating muddy washes
- →Not varying the value enough
- →Making the initial sketch too heavy
materials
surface · Japanese paper
required
- ·black ink
- ·watercolor brushes (various sizes)
- ·Japanese paper
- ·water container
- ·mixing palette
- ·pencil
- ·eraser
optional
- ·ruler
- ·masking fluid
Experiment with different types of paper to see how they affect the ink's flow and absorption. Rice paper is a good choice.
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