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.](https://blog.koalie.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/A25F30E1-DA7B-480F-ADA4-82F8A4621F4D_1_105_c.jpeg)
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.](https://blog.koalie.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/59076D3A-D1A3-4310-91E0-EE22BA72EB60_1_105_c.jpeg)
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.](https://blog.koalie.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/9CB74E76-8BF2-43E7-876B-268D342BF081_1_105_c.jpeg)
Bridge, boats, village, tree line, people.
![Finished version, signed and dated at the bottom right, against a black backdrop.](https://blog.koalie.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/6888D460-D332-47B1-8BDF-5D63E6B01049_1_201_a.jpeg)
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.](https://blog.koalie.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6913-1024x772.jpeg)