plate no. 5127

Two Divinities Dancing

Tomioka Tessai, 1924

oilNanga (Bunjinga)genre paintingmountainsfigurestreeswaterfallcloudslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in ink wash painting, particularly in creating textures for rocks and foliage using varied brushstrokes and dilutions. It also introduces the concept of atmospheric perspective using ink washes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, figures, and trees.
step 02
Begin with diluted washes of gray ink to establish the overall tonal values of the mountains and rocks.
step 03
Add darker ink washes to define the shadows and create depth in the rock formations.
step 04
Paint the trees using a combination of dry brush strokes for texture and wet-on-wet techniques for blending.
step 05
Add the figures, starting with light washes of color and gradually building up the details.
step 06
Paint the waterfall and clouds with diluted white ink, using varying brushstrokes to create movement and texture.
step 07
Add final details such as leaves, branches, and facial features.
step 08
Sign the painting with a traditional seal.

color palette

primary · black ink · white ink · red-orange

secondary · green · light blue · gray

Varying dilutions of black ink create all the grayscale tones. Mix red and a touch of yellow for the figure's clothing. Mix blue and yellow for the greens.

techniques