Day: January 2, 2021

Art: Ryōgoku Hanabi (Fireworks at Ryogoku), Hiroshige (step by step)

My first painting of the year 2021! It seems appropriate as a new year’s first painting to be one of fireworks.

I set out to paint Ryōgoku Hanabi (Fireworks at Ryogoku) by favourite artist Hiroshige (1858). Here’s a step by step progression.

Masking tape on a watercolour sheet with pencil sketch of a large bridge and many boats on the river. My mechanical pencil and tiny rubber are visible on the table.

Masking tape in place, pencil sketch done.

Top and bottom painted with a gradient of deep prussian blue. The gouache paint tube is visible next to the pad on the table.

Gradient of prussian blue for the night sky and the bottom part of the river.

Bridge, boats, village, tree line and vegetation added, as well a many tiny people on the bridge. I used yellow ochre gouache paint mixed with ivory black to get the brown and darker brown tones. The tubes are visible on the table.

Bridge, boats, village, tree line, people.

Finished version, signed and dated at the bottom right, against a black backdrop.

Fireworks added in white. Tape removed. Signature and date added.

Finished version framed: the painting is glued on some light taupe paper and the frame is taupe wood.
Finished version framed: the painting is glued on some light taupe paper and the frame is taupe wood.