Wednesday, July 6, 2011

The alla prima oil painting process

oil painting is usually done on a smaller canvas and with a colored ground to save time.

An oil-rich medium is also usually incorporated to allow the entire painting to be worked throughout the session with none of it becoming sticky, or tacky due to premature drying. The medium is used to keep the paint from drying, but not so much as to thin it for glazing. Most color mixtures are opaque as glazing is not incorporated.

Large bristle brushes are typically used as the paint is fairly heavy and thick. As the work is refined, more softer synthetic nylons and smaller sizes are utilized for final blending and detail work.

Alla Prima oil painting process:

1. A loose under-drawing of charcoal, chalk or even thinned paint is done over the colored ground.

2. Key color and focal areas are laid in firstly. These are usually your lighter, and more opaque paint.

3. Darker tones are then added, these being again opque and heavy paint. Background is also done at the same time.

4. After your main elements are blocked in details are now beginning using impasto strokes and thickly applied paints.

5. "Tonking" tapping of a rag or paper, to the canvas to remove excess paint where needed. This is like blotting ink from paper. No rubbing is done, just a blotting motion to remove paint that is impeding further work. Too thick a paint in an area that you need to go back into will make mud.

6. After this you can begin blending as you now have paint blocked into all areas of the canvas in the proportions you deem necessary.

7. Final details are then put into just your focal points. As the entire painting is still quite wet, the use of the mahl stick will most likely be necessary.

8. Final highlights and a signature and you're done!

Now, I know it's hard to understand what you have just read without pictures, but have no fear. I will be working a small alla prima demonstration for you to include here and on my demo section of the site. It's one of those priority things in getting the images on the camera to the computer kinda thing. I'm also having a decision crisis on what exactly to paint. I'm thinking daffodils, but if you have an idea in the next few weeks, post your comments to me!

Until next time....

OK, next time is here! Check out this new demonstration of the alla prima oil painting process!

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