plate no. 8536

Pagoda in Kyoto

Toshi Yoshida, 1942

oilSōsaku hangalandscapepagodatreeswaterlandscapearchitecturereflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as simplifying complex shapes into basic forms. It also provides practice in capturing reflections in water.

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: the pagoda, the trees, the water line, and the small structure on the left.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light wash of pink and yellow, blending the colors softly.
step 03
Paint the pagoda using a muted gray-blue, adding darker tones to suggest shadows and details.
step 04
Add the trees with varying shades of green and blue, focusing on the overall shape rather than individual leaves.
step 05
Paint the water with a base of blue, then add reflections of the pagoda and trees using lighter and slightly blurred versions of their colors.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, such as the rocks and the small structure, using darker tones and finer brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the details of the pagoda and trees, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches to the reflections in the water, ensuring they are soft and slightly distorted.

color palette

primary · sky blue · peach · gray

secondary · forest green · dark blue · light yellow

Mix muted grays by combining blue, brown, and white. Achieve the sky colors by blending pink, yellow, and white. Create the water color by mixing blue with a touch of green and gray.

techniques