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home·artworks·Moon and Blue Flowers
Moon and Blue Flowers by Ohara Koson

plate no. 3797

Moon and Blue Flowers

Ohara Koson

paperShin-hangalandscapemoonflowersgrassnightskyclouds
some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes to create depth and atmosphere, as well as practicing delicate line work for botanical elements.

technical profile

palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Lightly sketch the composition, indicating the moon's position and the general arrangement of the plants.

  2. step 02

    Apply a light wash of diluted grey/brown to the entire background, leaving the moon area untouched.

  3. step 03

    Build up the background with darker washes, creating the cloud effect and a sense of depth.

  4. step 04

    Paint the moon with a very light yellow/beige wash, creating a subtle glow.

  5. step 05

    Use thin, dark green lines to create the grass blades, varying the thickness and direction.

  6. step 06

    Add the blue flowers and yellow flower details, using a slightly thicker paint consistency.

  7. step 07

    Paint the white feathery grass tops with thin white lines.

  8. step 08

    Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · grey · white · green · blue

secondary · yellow · beige · brown

Achieve the background greys by mixing black and white with small amounts of brown or yellow. The blue is a muted, slightly greyed blue.

techniques

  • ·layering washes
  • ·dry brushing
  • ·delicate line work
  • ·color blending
  • ·glazing

common pitfalls

  • →overworking the background
  • →making the grass too uniform
  • →using too much water
  • →making the moon too bright

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

  • ·watercolor paper
  • ·watercolor paints (grey, white, green, blue, yellow)
  • ·round brushes (various sizes)
  • ·water container
  • ·palette

optional

  • ·masking fluid
  • ·ruler
  • ·kneaded eraser

Use good quality watercolor paper to handle multiple washes. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varied line weights.

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