plate no. 3971

Remaining Snow at Inokashira

Hasui Kawase, 1920

woodblock printShin-hangalandscapelaketreessnowreedslandscapewater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice layering colors to create depth and learn to simplify complex shapes into basic forms. Students will also develop skills in creating textures with repetitive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the landscape: the shoreline, the trees, and the water.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, leaving some areas white for clouds.
step 03
Paint the water with a base layer of dark blue, adding lighter blues for reflections.
step 04
Add the dark green color for the trees, focusing on the overall shape and form.
step 05
Paint the snow-covered areas with white, adding shadows with gray or light brown.
step 06
Add the reeds in the foreground with light brown and yellow, using short, vertical strokes.
step 07
Refine the details of the trees, adding individual branches and leaves.
step 08
Add the duck and its reflection as a final touch.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Emerald green · Titanium white

secondary · Burnt umber · Yellow ochre · Light blue

Mix different shades of blue by adding white or a touch of green to the Prussian blue. Create the tree color by mixing Emerald green with a touch of Burnt umber. For the reeds, mix Yellow ochre with Burnt umber.

techniques

·Layering
·Dry brushing
·Color mixing
·Simplification of forms
·Creating texture with brushstrokes

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, losing the simplicity of the original.
→Not creating enough contrast between the light and dark areas.
→Using too many colors, resulting in a muddy or chaotic look.
→Failing to simplify the complex shapes of the trees and reeds.

materials

surface · Stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Acrylic paints (Prussian blue, Emerald green, Titanium white, Burnt umber, Yellow ochre)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brush (size 8)
·Palette
·Water container
·Paper towels
·Pencil