plate no. 5895

Shinano in Spring

pastelPost-Impressionismlandscapemountainstreesbuildingsskylandscapevillage

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. Students will also learn to create atmospheric perspective using color and value.

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 mountains, buildings, and trees using light pencil lines.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue pastel, blending it smoothly.
step 03
Apply the base colors for the mountains, using greens, browns, and grays, paying attention to the planes and shadows.
step 04
Add the darker tones to the mountains to define the ridges and valleys.
step 05
Block in the colors for the fields and foreground, using greens and yellows.
step 06
Add details to the buildings, using browns and reds for the roofs and walls.
step 07
Create the blossoms on the trees using white and pink pastels, applying them in small, broken strokes.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the entire painting, blending and layering colors as needed.