plate no. 9555
Yoshitsune with benkei
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering flat colors and creating detailed patterns. It also provides practice in depicting figures in traditional Japanese armor.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the tree.
- step 02
Lay in the background colors: sky, water, and ground.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the figures' armor and clothing.
- step 04
Add details to the armor, including the patterns and textures.
- step 05
Paint the tree trunk and branches, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 06
Add the cherry blossoms and falling petals.
- step 07
Refine the facial features and expressions of the figures.
- step 08
Add the text block in the upper right and lower right corners.
color palette
primary · red · black · white · green
secondary · blue · yellow · brown
Mix shades of red by adding black or white. Create lighter greens by mixing yellow and white with the base green.
techniques
- ·flat color application
- ·pattern creation
- ·line work
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Inaccurate proportions of the figures
- →Muddying the colors
- →Ignoring the light source
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·water
- ·pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·ruler
- ·tracing paper
Using a reference image for the armor details is highly recommended.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
14. Temple Gardens in Nippori
Hiroshige
8. Suruga Chō
Hiroshige
Travels Looking at Mt. Fuji
Kitagawa Utamaro
The Letter
Utagawa Kunisada
Jeu Princier. Mongol
Paul Jacoulet
Looking as if she is enjoying herself - a teacher of the Keisei era
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Ariwara no Yukihira
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
The Ghost
Utagawa Kunisada