plate no. 3625
Summer Afternoon
Tadashi Nakayama, 1969
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors, creating patterns, and understanding positive and negative space. It also encourages careful observation of shapes and forms within a stylized context.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, sunflowers, and background elements.
- step 02
Apply a base layer of gold/yellow to the background.
- step 03
Block in the dark areas of the figure's hair and silhouette.
- step 04
Add the white and gray stripes to the hair, using a dry brush technique.
- step 05
Paint the sunflowers, starting with the dark grid pattern and then adding the yellow petals.
- step 06
Add details to the figure's clothing, using thin stripes.
- step 07
Refine the edges and add any final details, such as the small circles at the bottom.
- step 08
Consider adding a glaze to unify the colors.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · black · white
secondary · red · gold · gray
Mix yellow ochre with white to create lighter shades for the background and highlights. Use black and white to create various shades of gray for the hair.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·pattern making
- ·silhouette painting
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the hair.
- →Making the sunflower grid too uniform.
- →Not achieving enough contrast between the light and dark areas.
- →Losing the overall simplicity of the design.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints (yellow ochre, black, white, red)
- ·assorted brushes (small round, flat)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
- ·pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·glazing medium
- ·ruler
Use high-quality acrylic paints for best results. A canvas with a smooth surface is recommended for easier detail work.
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