plate no. 3362
Show at Shinkawabata
Hasui Kawase, 1935
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to create a sense of depth using color and value. It also provides practice in rendering textures like stone and wood in a simplified manner.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective of the buildings and canal.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a light blue-gray wash for the sky and snow.
- step 03
Block in the dark shapes of the buildings using a muted brown or gray.
- step 04
Add the stone wall along the canal, varying the color of the stones to create texture.
- step 05
Paint the figure with the umbrella and the dog, keeping them simple and dark.
- step 06
Add details like windows, roof lines, and snow on the roofs.
- step 07
Create the effect of falling snow by adding small white dots.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · Prussian blue · Titanium white · Burnt umber
secondary · Yellow ochre · Payne's gray
Mix Prussian blue and white for the sky and snow. Add burnt umber to the blue mixture to create the darker tones for the buildings and canal. Use yellow ochre sparingly for the umbrella.
techniques
- ·Layering
- ·Dry brushing
- ·Scumbling
- ·Atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Making the colors too bright or saturated.
- →Overworking the details.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of perspective.
- →Not creating enough contrast between the foreground and background.
materials
surface · Stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits (if using oils)
optional
- ·Retarder medium (for acrylics)
- ·Linseed oil (for oils)
- ·Easel
A toned canvas (light gray or blue-gray) can be helpful for establishing the overall color scheme.
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