plate no. 1672
Two Beauties in Rain
Ohara Koson, 1935
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and mastering the technique of creating a sense of atmosphere through subtle color variations. It also provides practice in rendering figures and drapery in a stylized manner.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main elements: figures, umbrellas, tree, and distant buildings.
- step 02
Establish the background wash with diluted light beige/pink, suggesting the rain and sky.
- step 03
Paint the tree foliage using varying shades of green, creating depth with darker shadows.
- step 04
Block in the figures' clothing with flat colors, paying attention to the folds and drapery.
- step 05
Add details to the umbrellas, focusing on the radial patterns and color variations.
- step 06
Paint the rain using thin, vertical lines of diluted white or light gray.
- step 07
Add the birds and the distant buildings with minimal detail.
- step 08
Refine the details and add any necessary highlights and shadows.
color palette
primary · red · blue · green · black
secondary · white · beige · gray
Achieve the muted tones by mixing primary colors with white or gray. Use diluted washes for the background and rain.
techniques
- ·flat color application
- ·layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·line work
- ·washes
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Creating overly saturated colors
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective
- →Incorrect proportions of the figures
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints
- ·watercolor brushes (various sizes)
- ·watercolor paper
- ·pencil
- ·eraser
- ·palette
- ·water container
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·ruler
- ·color pencils
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying line thicknesses.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
in this vein
