plate no. 6795

Town of Vail, Colorado

Toshi Yoshida, 1966

oilSōsaku hangalandscapemountainstownbuildingstreesskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color blocking and creating depth through layering of colors. Students will also learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and lines.

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 mountains, hills, buildings, and trees, focusing on overall composition.
step 02
Divide the painting into distinct color areas: sky, mountains, hills, buildings, and foreground.
step 03
Begin with the sky, applying a flat wash of light blue.
step 04
Block in the mountain colors using shades of purple, brown, and gray, adding details for snow and shadows.
step 05
Paint the hills with varying shades of green, creating depth with darker greens in the lower areas.
step 06
Add the buildings using flat colors like yellow, red, and brown, paying attention to their shapes and placement.
step 07
Paint the trees with dark green, using vertical strokes to suggest their form.
step 08
Finish with the foreground, using green for the grass and adding details like paths and small bushes.

color palette

primary · light blue · green · brown · purple

secondary · yellow · red · gray

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows with a touch of brown. Achieve mountain colors by mixing purples, browns, and grays. Use white to lighten colors for highlights.

techniques