Ready, set, Paint
Art completes what nature cannot bring to finish. The
artist gives us knowledge of nature's unrealized
ends. -Aristotle
What is Under-painting? Underpainting an
image is usually done with Burnt Umber or a blended
color. This is your blue print for your painting. Use
very little paint. As an example I use Burnt Sienna for a
portrait, and when painting a white cat, I will use
Payne's Gray and this will blend in and be used as a
shadow color. Outline small areas of the image at a time.
Use your scrubber and pull in shadows and highlights.
Continue until your whole image is under-painted. When
your under-painting is completed it should look like a
completed painting in just one color. This usually will
dry overnight and then you will be able to you apply your
colors. A hair dryer may be used to speed up the drying
time. Be careful not to smear your paints. I think the
best way to dry the underpainting is to let it set
overnight. If you used very little paint, it will dry
fast. Lay in under- painting with a thin wash, turpentine
or thinner and very little color.
Under-painting is a
very important step in composing a painting. The more
time you spend with the under-painting, the easier your
painting will be to complete.
Color:
Establish you dominant color scheme according to your original plan. Do not over mix the colors. Add your supporting colors, always keeping control over the cools and warms, and general balance of tonality.
Working wet on wet is easy…Use a clean brush and work as usual. Working wet on dry is even easier. You may work as quickly or as slowly as you want.
What is a wash?
A wash is painting with a thinner or turpentine and very little paint.
Why is medium important?
Medium will help your oil paints to glide onto your canvas. Res-n-gel is my choice of medium it has no odor and is in a tube and less waste when using it. . I also use Archival Lean Medium, which will help your painting to dry quickly. I use this in one day workshops, it will accelerate the drying time and we are able to complete the painting faster.
Mediums should be used very sparingly. Do not put it into your piles of paints. Linseed Oil is the most common medium used. It does have a slight odor.
In each step of the painting, the picture must look like something complete in itself. In other words, work on each section of the painting as a whole painting.
Identify your palette:
Do you want a warm look to your painting or a cool look? The colors
you choose to use in your painting will create either a cool or a warm
painting will determine the temperature of the painting.
Warm colors such as reds, oranges and yellows will appear to advance,
when cool colors such as greens, blues, violets, appear to recede or
move away.
I already mentioned the three Primary Colors.
By mixing two primary colors together we create a Secondary color.
An example red + yellow = orange.
Blue + yellow = green
Studying the color wheel is a must for the artist. It is a bit confusing,
but the more you paint the easier it is to understand and work with.
Why are large shapes more important than small details?
Too much small detail in your painting will confuse the viewer's eye.
By paying more attention to larger objects it is less confusing to the
viewer.
Double Loading:
This refers to applying two colors to the brush at one time. Painting
with a double loaded brush can save time and energy, especially when creating
fine details such as birds or tree limbs. Here's how to do it:
Load the brush with the darkest color, then pull the other side of the
brush through the highlight color to create a dark and a light side. Position
the brush so the stroke will be half dark and half light as you touch
the canvas.
Blending:
Apply each color quickly and generously. I tend to work in Criss- cross
or figure eight strokes. When the colors are mingled, blend with long
strokes, brushing back and forth, moving from light colors into dark ones.
Blend with firm pressure, and then use a feather touch for the finishing
stroke. I like to say "A feather and a hair."
Glazing:
When glazing a color onto the canvas you will use your medium and very little paint. Glazing is usually done when you are applying paint over another paint that has already dried. It will create a shiny finish.
What a tone values?
Tone values are the intensities of the color of paint.
What are Primary colors?
Red, yellow and blue are primary colors in their strongest form. From the three primary colors you can mix other colors by adding Neutral colors such as white, black.
What is a cool color?
A cool color is a color that appears to recede or move away (greens, blues, and violet).
What is a warm color?
Warm colors move forward to the viewer (oranges, red and yellow).
Wet on wet painting:
Painting wet on wet is a lot of fun; you are applying paint over top of wet paint. I like the look and it fast painting and will create beautiful colors. It takes practice and once you have learned it you will enjoy painting wet on wet.
Applying Gesso to a raw canvas:
An acrylic gesso is a good base for under oil paints. It may be applied with a foam brush or a roller to the canvas.
What is Hue?
Hue is a name for a color.
What is a tint?
Raising the value of a color is a tint.
What is a shade?
Lowering the value of a color creates a shade.
What is Intensity?
Intensity is the brightness or dullness of a color.
Can I paint with a palette knife?
Yes, palette knife painting requires a lot more paint, and leaves a rough texture on the canvas. The painting below was done largley with a palette knife.
The painting shown above was done largely with a palette knife.