plate no. 5187

Rain

Torii Kotondo, 1929

oilShin-hangaportraitfigureportraitumbrellakimonorainwoman

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating flat, graphic shapes with clean edges. It also provides practice in rendering patterns and textures on clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, umbrella, and basic kimono form.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: skin tone, hair, kimono stripes, and umbrella.
step 03
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle curves and proportions.
step 04
Add the patterns on the kimono and obi (sash).
step 05
Paint the umbrella details, including the ribs and subtle shading.
step 06
Add the rain lines using a fine brush or liner.
step 07
Refine the edges and details throughout the painting.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights.

color palette

primary · ivory · black · green · pink

secondary · red · blue · brown · gold

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing ivory with small amounts of red, yellow, and brown. The green for the kimono is a mix of green and black. The brown for the umbrella is a mix of burnt umber and yellow ochre.

techniques