plate no. 6381

Mt. Fuji

Okumura Togyu, 1976

oilNihongalandscapemountaincloudsskylandscape

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic outline of Mt. Fuji and the cloud formations.
step 02
Apply a light wash of pale blue-green to the sky area.
step 03
Begin layering washes of blue and brown to define the mountain, starting with the lighter tones.
step 04
Add darker blues and browns to create shadows and depth on the mountain.
step 05
Use diluted white and pale peach to create the cloud formations, layering to build up opacity.
step 06
Add subtle blue and brown washes to the clouds to define their shapes and shadows.
step 07
Refine the edges of the mountain and clouds, softening some areas and defining others.
step 08
Add final details such as the snow on the mountain peak.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Burnt Umber · Titanium White

secondary · Yellow Ochre · Payne's Gray

Mix Prussian Blue and Burnt Umber for the mountain shadows. Use Titanium White to lighten and create the cloud effects. Add a touch of Yellow Ochre to the white for warmer cloud tones.

techniques