plate no. 1352

Nachi Waterfall

Asano Takeji, 1940

oilSōsaku hangalandscapewaterfallmountainsarchitecturetreesfigurerain

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand layering techniques to create depth and practice rendering atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplified figure drawing and architectural elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: mountains, waterfall, building, and lanterns.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the basic perspective of the platform.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color: sky, mountains, trees, and foreground.
step 04
Add the waterfall using light, vertical strokes.
step 05
Define the architectural details of the building and lanterns.
step 06
Paint the figure and umbrella, focusing on simple shapes and colors.
step 07
Add the rain using thin, vertical lines.
step 08
Refine details and add highlights and shadows.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Viridian green · Gray · Red

secondary · White · Black · Yellow Ochre

Mix different shades of green by combining Prussian blue and Viridian green with varying amounts of white and yellow ochre. Create grays by mixing black and white, adjusting the tone with a touch of blue or green.

techniques