plate no. 2719
Snow at Shiba Park
Hasui Kawase, 1931
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as practicing precise line work for architectural elements and tree branches.
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 placement of the temple, trees, and figure.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas: red for the temple, blue for the water, and muted greens/browns for the trees.
- step 03
Add the base layer of snow, using a light blue-gray to indicate shadows.
- step 04
Begin layering the red on the temple, adding darker shades for depth and lighter shades for highlights.
- step 05
Paint the bare tree branches with thin, precise lines, paying attention to their delicate structure.
- step 06
Add the falling snow using small, controlled dots of white paint.
- step 07
Refine the details of the figure and umbrella, using dark colors for the figure and subtle greens for the umbrella.
- step 08
Add final touches to the snow, highlighting areas where it catches the light.
color palette
primary · red · blue · white · gray
secondary · green · brown
Mix various shades of red by adding small amounts of brown or black. Create the snow color by mixing white with a touch of blue and gray.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·stippling
- ·linear perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the snow, resulting in a flat, textureless surface.
- →Making the tree branches too uniform and lacking natural variation.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle color variations in the snow and shadows.
- →Losing the sense of depth by not layering colors effectively.
materials
surface · Watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Acrylic or watercolor paints
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·Watercolor paper or canvas
- ·Palette
- ·Water container
- ·Paper towels
- ·Pencil
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Masking fluid
- ·Ruler
Using high-quality paints will result in richer, more vibrant colors. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve the desired level of detail.
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