plate no. 6562

Summer in Aizu

Kiyoshi Saito, 1960

oilSōsaku hangacityscapebuildingstreesfiguresstreetvillagesky

suitable for beginners

This painting is great for learning about simplified shapes and color blocking. Students can practice creating depth through layering and varying the size of shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of buildings and figures.
step 02
Divide the canvas into distinct color areas (sky, buildings, ground, trees).
step 03
Start with the sky, using a light blue and applying it evenly.
step 04
Fill in the larger shapes of the buildings with their base colors (browns, whites, tans).
step 05
Add the darker details like the roofs, tree branches, and figure silhouettes.
step 06
Define the ground with gray tones, adding texture with small, irregular shapes.
step 07
Introduce the accent colors (red pants, green leaves) sparingly to create focal points.
step 08
Refine the edges and shapes, ensuring a clean and graphic look.

color palette

primary · brown · black · white · gray

secondary · light blue · red · green · tan

Mix browns from burnt umber and burnt sienna. Vary the grays by adding white or black to the brown mixture. Achieve the light blue by mixing a small amount of blue with a lot of white.

techniques