plate no. 9850

Snow at Ginkakuji

Asano Takeji, 1931

oilShin-hangacityscapebuildingsnowtreeslandscapewinterarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and mastering the use of negative space to define shapes, especially in the snow-covered branches.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the building, tree, and snow drifts.
step 02
Block in the background sky with a diluted grey-blue wash.
step 03
Apply a base layer of color to the building, using a light brown or ochre.
step 04
Paint the tree trunk with a mix of brown and grey, adding texture with dry brush strokes.
step 05
Add the snow on the branches and ground using white, paying attention to the shapes and shadows.
step 06
Layer darker tones to define the shadows and details of the building and snow.
step 07
Refine the details of the windows, railings, and other architectural elements.
step 08
Add final highlights to the snow and tree branches to create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · grey-blue · brown · white

secondary · ochre · light grey · dark brown

Achieve the grey-blue sky by mixing blue with white and a touch of grey. Create variations in the snow by adding small amounts of blue or brown to the white.

techniques

·layering
·dry brushing
·negative space
·color washing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early
→Making the snow too flat and uniform
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the snow and sky
→Not establishing a clear focal point

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper 140lb
·watercolor paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brush
·palette
·water container
·pencil

optional

·masking fluid
·palette knife
·ruler

Using a heavier weight watercolor paper will prevent buckling when applying washes. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.

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