Indirect painting links

http://www.chrispeters.com/indirect-painting.html

http://joeforkanblog.com/?tag=indirect-painting

http://www.gamblincolors.com/oil.painting.techniques/indirect.html

Indirect examples

Indirect Painting Project

Part 1: Grisaille (underpainting)

The grisaille is the monochromatic underpainting, traditionally done in flake white and umber or ivory black. For our project, please use black and white acrylic.

Remember that the grisaille should adhere to the following guidelines:

• The range of value should be towards the light side, from pure white to about a medium dark grey at the most.
• The finished grisaille should be more tightly rendered than you expect the finished painting to be.
• All drawing and volume issues must be addressed in the grisaille. You can’t easily ad-lib with glazes.

Your underpainting may be any size, but I suggest it stays towards the small side, roughly 11 x 14. It may be something observed, like a still life or landscape, or it may be completely made up and non-objective. It could be a master copy.

Part 1 is due on March 10.

Part 2: Glazing

Using one of the mediums I suggested, gradually build up glazes of color onto the grisaille. Do one layer at a time, allowing a few days of drying time in between. The more layers you do, the more the effect will show its abilities. You may want to map out a plan of action ahead of time. Remember that you ideally want to glaze darker colors over lighter ones. Do not tint colors (add white) and try not to mix them too much on the palette. Remember that the whole point is to optically mix colors like stacking thin layers of colored glass over a light table.

The final painting is due at the final class of the semester.

Self portrait sketch examples

Materials for next week

Please be sure to have the following with you next class:

Sketchbook

Pencils

Paints, palette, etc.

Mirror (12 inches square)

Three smallish canvas panels, about 8” x 10” or so, given a imprimatura (stain) of dull blue, earth red, and raw umber. Do this in acrylic, or in oil mixed with liquin. It must be dry by Thursday.

Welcome Back! This week's class:

Hi Everyone,

Remember that we are having individual critiques during tomorrow's class. You will need:

All fruit/vegetable paintings
In class still life
Drapery painting
Independent still life
Anything you've prepared for the indirect painting (grisaille.)
Any plein air painting you may have done over break.

While I am conducting reviews, the rest of you will be working on your plein air project, so be ready to paint with small format paper or boards, properly coated with gesso if you plan to use oils. Double check the post below concerning this project.
Bring everything you need to paint outdoors. I believe the weather should cooperate.

In any event, come to the classroom first to drop off your work. I will schedule brief meetings with each of you to discuss work to date, any attendance issues, etc.

Plein air painting examples

Plein Air Painting

You will be doing small, quick outdoor paintings during the next few weeks.

Materials needed:

Painting panels or Foamcor (or heavy weight cotton rag drawing paper, about 120 lbs.)

Acrylic gesso

Drawing board or other stiff board

Paints, palette, etc.

Masking tape

Shallow flat bottomed box

Portable easel, if you have one

• Cut your Foamcor or paper into a variety of smallish squares/rectangles, ranging from about 3” square to no more than 8” square.
• Attach them to a board with masking tape and apply 2 coats of acrylic gesso to the front of each. (If paper, coat w/gesso before cutting.)
• Explore the campus for scenes in which light and/or shadow are interesting. This could be bright sunlight in a landscape, the atmospheric perspective of an overcast day, the light and shadow of a few objects, etc. Use L frames or a camera to help compose your paintings.
• I would like at least two of the paintings to be night scenes.
• Look especially to depict different kinds of light at different times of day: the sky at dusk, early morning light, hazy light, artificial light, etc. Find interesting or unusual compositions. Make use of cast shadows whenever possible.
• Concentrate on the concepts of WARM and COOL color.
• These should be done outdoors in a safe environment when possible. Painting views from a window is acceptable if the weather is poor. Interiors may be painted if the quality of light is exceptional.
• Paintings should be quick, but fully resolved. Even a small painting may take 1-2 hours or more to complete.
• There is a minimum of 10 paintings required.
• Be adventurous with your paintings, but be smart and safe painting outdoors. When possible, paint in groups.
• Please ask questions or show me work in progress during your review.

Due April 7.