The Golf of Kanagawa - Royal Talens
The Golf of Kanagawa - Royal Talens

How to draw the Great Wave of Kanagawa

Products featured in this tutorial:

  • Pigma Micron 03 Black
  • Gelly Roll White 08
  • Koi Brush Pen Prussian Blue
  • Koi Mixed media paper pad A6

Optional:

  • HB graphite pencil 
  • Eraser 
  • Glass of water 
  • Cotton swab or brush 

To help you determine the size and composition of your work, you can print the example. You can easily create a grid with this.

Overview of the steps 

00:06

Fold the example in half, once horizontally and once vertically.

00:13

Place the example on your blank sheet of paper to determine the 4 grid points. Draw 4 small dots with a pencil.

00:19

Use the Pigma Micron to draw the broad lines of the waves. Of course, you can also use an HB pencil for this, so you can still erase the lines if you make a mistake. Trace the lines with the Pigma Micron once you are happy with your sketch.

00:47

Add more details such as Mt Fuji in the background and the boats in the water with the Pigma Micron.

02:33

Take the Koi Brush Pen and use it to set up the colour. Keep some blank space between the waves to avoid making the colour too solid.

03:53

Use a cotton swab or brush with water to create a watercolour effect to give more depth to your drawing. You will also use this diluted colour for the background.

05:05

Let the drawing dry thoroughly before taking the Gelly Roll White. Use this to apply highlights in the waves. 

07:03

Use your Pigma Micron to add more contrast where your drawing needs it.

07:50

You can also do this with the Koi Brush Pen to add even more depth to the water.

Our expert

Justyna Pennards Sycz

Justyna Pennards (justynapennards) is a Dutch artist painter whose primary sources of inspiration are the forces of nature, particularly the ocean and the forest. Through her art, she seeks to inspire others, conveying the message that we are an integral part of nature and have the capacity to grow and undergo transformations at any juncture in our lives. 

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