plate no. 4313

Silver Pavillion - Kyoto

Toshi Yoshida, 1951

oilSōsaku hangalandscapebuildingtreesgardenwaterfigureslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to depict distance. Students will also practice rendering architectural details within a natural setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the pavilion, trees, and water, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background sky and distant trees with diluted washes of grey and green.
step 03
Begin layering colors on the pavilion, starting with the roof and then the structure itself, using thin washes.
step 04
Paint the various trees and bushes, using different shades of green and yellow to create variety and depth.
step 05
Add details to the garden, including the rocks, flowers, and small figures.
step 06
Paint the water, reflecting the colors of the surrounding landscape.
step 07
Refine the details of the pavilion and garden, adding shadows and highlights to create depth.
step 08
Add final details and touch-ups to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · grey · green · brown

secondary · pink · yellow · white

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and adjust the tones with browns and greys. Achieve the pinks by diluting reds and mixing with white.

techniques

·layering
·washes
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, resulting in a flat and lifeless painting.
→Using too much paint, obscuring the underlying layers.
→Ignoring the importance of atmospheric perspective, making the painting appear flat.
→Not paying attention to the proportions of the pavilion and garden.