plate no. 8077

View of Fuji from Izumo

Yamamura Toyonari, 1924

oilSōsaku hangalandscapemountainlakeboatsskybuildingslandscape

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle gradients and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes: mountain, shoreline, boats, and foreground elements.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
step 03
Apply a base layer of diluted yellow and orange for the sky, blending smoothly.
step 04
Paint the mountain with light blue and purple hues, adding darker shades for shadows.
step 05
Block in the water with a gradient from light orange/pink at the top to darker blue at the bottom.
step 06
Add the distant shoreline and buildings, using darker values to suggest distance.
step 07
Paint the boats and foreground details, paying attention to reflections in the water.
step 08
Refine details and add highlights to create depth and interest.

color palette

primary · sky blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · purple · white

Achieve the subtle sky colors by mixing yellow ochre with white and small amounts of burnt sienna. Create the mountain's blue by mixing sky blue with ultramarine and a touch of purple. The water's gradient is achieved by blending light orange/pink into darker blues.

techniques

·flat wash
·blending
·atmospheric perspective
·simplified shapes
·color gradients

common pitfalls

→Overworking the colors and losing the subtle gradients.
→Making the distant elements too detailed.
→Incorrectly representing the reflections in the water.
→Not simplifying the shapes enough.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paints
·watercolor paper 140lb
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brush
·palette
·water container
·masking tape

optional

·palette knife
·kneaded eraser
·ruler

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for better blending. Dilute the paints with plenty of water to achieve smooth washes and gradients.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein