plate no. 9218
Mt. Asama in the Early Spring
Unichi Hiratsuka, 1936
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, house, and field.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light green or blue wash.
- step 03
Apply the base colors for the mountains, using lighter tones for highlights and darker tones for shadows.
- step 04
Paint the house, focusing on the roof and wall details.
- step 05
Add the field with rows of brown and golden hues.
- step 06
Define the stone wall and haystacks with darker outlines and details.
- step 07
Add the trees and other vegetation, using varying shades of green and brown.
- step 08
Refine the details and add final touches, such as the lines in the field and the texture of the mountains.
color palette
primary · light green · brown · tan · dark blue
secondary · yellow · gray · black
Mix browns with blues and yellows to achieve the earth tones. Use white to lighten colors for highlights and black to darken for shadows.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·hatching
- ·dry brushing
- ·color blocking
- ·linear perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the details too early.
- →Using too much paint and losing the crispness of the lines.
- →Not establishing a clear value structure.
- →Ignoring the perspective of the field and mountains.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper
- ·watercolor paints
- ·fine liner brushes
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·pencil
- ·eraser
- ·ruler
optional
- ·masking tape
- ·color pencils
- ·gouache
Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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