Painting Stages

Prestage; Layering Approach; or Direct Apporach

Prestage

Preparing the Canvas Two Choices

1.     Untoned Ground

2.     Tone Ground

Tint or Tone (set the mood)

Color Flat or Gradation

Fields of Different Colors

Layering Approach

Underdrawing

Drawing direct on the canvas

Done with confidence taken from your multiple sketches, studies, and word sketches or illuminated memory

Or

  Transferring

o   Create a tracing from a final drawing or flat design to use as a wireframe – for a compositional element

Underpainting

Wash Drawing is the missing link between the Academy is a central underpinning for Impressionist work for someone who is desires more structure or someone who desires expressive freedom. It’s the foundation of the work which are often so beautiful that they can be ends in themselves. Two approaches:

·      Monochromatic – to create a Value Scale (washes for setting the foundation for light and dark to create form as done in the Academy)

Or

·      Large Spots of Color – to create a Value Scale or overall, Mood (washes setting the foundation of light through color Impressionist)

Glazes 

Glazes are a transparent or translucent pigment with medium to influence the overall tone or mood. Can be come after an under drawing or an underpainting.

Brushstrokes

Broken Space Strokes - (Optical Mixing and Simultaneous Contrast)

Illustrative and Expressive

Illustrative strokes - Perspective and Literal interpretation

Expressive strokes - Improvisational and Abstract interpretations

Finishing Strokes

Are touch up strokes, final thoughts, detailed or broader strokes to balance out the painting they are the soloist. Finishing strokes stand as high notes singing above all the stages, they work in unison yet as a soloist they are known as your Signature Brushstroke.

Direct Approach

A direct approach usually does not have a wireframing, glazing or underpainting value scale. Can have an under drawing or none - Abstract Impressionism

One has an under drawing for guidance while the other one does not.

Under drawing 

·      Underdrawings can be done with charcoal, or pastel, acrylic marker or brush as guidelines to work out composition and proportions, and then color is applied

·      Color Applications

o   Large Spots of Color

o   Broken Space Strokes  - (Optical Mixing and Simultaneous Contrast )

-       Illustrative strokes

-       Expressive Strokes

-       Final Strokes

Direct without an Underdrawing

Is without an under drawing. Is a direct alla prima painting of large and small spots of color into detailed brushstrokes, usually done for en plein air.

·      Color Applications

o   Large Spots of Color

o   Broken Space Strokes - (Optical Mixing and Simultaneous Contrast)

-       Illustrative strokes

-       Expressive Strokes

-       Final Strokes

In painting your subject, you are free to use an many layers or steps to achieve your goal. Studio painting allows for more detailed works, while en plein air needs to work quickly and directly.

There are so many variations to experiment with.

		Layering Method	Direct Method	Plein Air Direct
Grounds
None		x		x		x
Tone Solid or Gradient	x		x		x
Color Field		x		x		x
Under drawing
Transfer from Cartoon	x
Direct		x		x
Underpainting
Mono values to create form	x
Color values to create form	x		x
Large Spots of Color
Flat Design		x		x		x
Glaze
For mood		x
Strokes
Illustrative		x		x		x
Expressive		x		x		x
Finishing		x		x		x