plate no. 5404
Village in Harima
Toshi Yoshida, 1951
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, color mixing for muted tones, and creating a sense of depth through layering and atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and landscape.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash.
- step 03
Establish the base colors for the buildings, hills, and ground, focusing on muted tones.
- step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and roof tiles.
- step 05
Paint the figures, paying attention to their proportions and placement within the scene.
- step 06
Layer in shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Add final details, such as textures on the buildings and ground.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and color balance.
color palette
primary · light blue · tan · brown · white
secondary · red · grey · green
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white or grey to desaturate the primary colors. Use thin washes to build up layers of color.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·linear perspective
- ·color mixing
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →overly saturated colors
- →incorrect perspective
- →lack of depth
- →inaccurate proportions of figures
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paints or gouache
- ·watercolor paper
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·pencil
- ·eraser
optional
- ·ruler
- ·masking tape
- ·palette knife
Use a smooth watercolor paper to allow for easier blending and layering. Consider using masking tape to create clean edges around the painting.
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