plate no. 8196
Preparing Her Sash (blue variant)
Torii Kotondo, 1933
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in precise line work, color blocking, and rendering smooth gradations in skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting intricate patterns and floral motifs.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
1
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the outline of the figure, focusing on proportions and pose.
- step 02
Carefully draw the details of the face, hair, and kimono, paying attention to the folds and patterns.
- step 03
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and skin tones.
- step 04
Add the base color for the kimono, hair and obi.
- step 05
Paint the blue pattern on the kimono, using a consistent brushstroke and spacing.
- step 06
Add the floral details to the obi, working from dark to light.
- step 07
Refine the details of the face and hair, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 08
Add the final details and touch-ups to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · pink · purple · green · light grey
Mix various shades of blue by adding white or black to the cerulean blue. Achieve skin tones by mixing white with a touch of pink and yellow. Create the grey by mixing black and white.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·smooth blending
- ·line work
- ·pattern rendering
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
- →Uneven or inconsistent color application.
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the style.
- →Incorrect pattern placement on the kimono.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·round brush size 2
- ·flat brush size 6
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·soft cloth
- ·pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·tracing paper
- ·ruler
Use high-quality acrylic paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface will make blending easier.
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