plate no. 0835

Night Rain on Oyama

woodcutUkiyo-elandscapemountainsrainlandscapetreesbuildingsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to create the illusion of rain using line work. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains and the building.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition within the frame.
step 03
Apply a base layer of light blue/grey wash for the sky and the areas where the rain will fall.
step 04
Paint the mountains using a mix of browns and blues, varying the values to create depth.
step 05
Add the dark green/black areas representing the trees on the mountains.
step 06
Carefully paint the diagonal lines representing the rain, using a light grey/white mix.
step 07
Add details to the building, using darker blues and browns.
step 08
Include the small figures on the mountain path and the red seal in the upper right corner.

color palette

primary · light blue · grey · brown · dark blue

secondary · white · black · red

Mix light blue by combining white with a touch of blue. Create various shades of grey by mixing white and black. Achieve the mountain colors by blending brown with blue and a hint of black.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·linear perspective
·layering
·dry brushing
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Making the rain lines too thick or too uniform.
→Failing to create enough contrast between the mountains and the sky.
→Overcomplicating the details of the trees and the building.
→Not establishing a clear light source.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paints or acrylic paints
·Round brushes (various sizes)
·Flat brush
·Watercolor paper or canvas
·Palette
·Water container
·Pencil
·Eraser

optional

·palette knife
·ruler
·masking tape

Using a smooth surface will help to create the clean lines of the rain. Consider using a reference photo to accurately depict the details of the building and the mountain path.

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