How to Ruin a Painting

I finished the underpainting this weekend. Although it is great to see the major compositional elements and values set on the canvas, I often fear this part of the process. It has been a long while since I have actually destroyed a painting by adding glazes, but the memory of loss is still on my mind.

The process itself is rather simple. Transparent layers of color are added over the underpainting, slowly building up a thick wash of colors to a dull composition. Glazing provides a vibrant "glow" to a painting by allowing light to flow through and reflect off the opaque bottom layer. I love the way it looks, which is why I often use the technique, but there is the possibility in acrylic painting to choose the wrong colors and consistency for glazing. Unlike oil paints, acrylic glazes cannot be "pulled back" after they are dry.

I like how this painting is coming together. Here is an updated picture before the glazing.


The underpainting is finished, now for some more color.

Glazing over an underpainting is actually a traditional painting technique. Vermeer used glazing to build fine detail. Painting in layers was common by the old Flemish masters.

I use a similar technique, but sometimes add color to the underpainting rather that just use a monochromatic base. Also, a light dusting into the peaks with a metallic paint adds visual highlights to the underpainting for the glazes to shine though.


In the "I Slack for Medical Reasons" category:
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