Since I broached the subject last night, tonight I will write briefly about layins. The layin is crucially important and in my opinion far too many "learning" painters rush through it and into the next stages.GOOD LAYINS LEAD TO GOOD PAINTINGS, CURSORY EFFORTS LEAD TO GREMLINS
Almost every painting presents unexpected problems that need to be solved, there are few perfect locations in this world. If you are going to fight with a painting better sooner than later, and better transparent and monotone than in thick colored paint. A layin doesn't need to be highly finished although often mine are, but all of the gremlins that are going to pop out later need to be discovered and their solutions found. This is like drawing a plan before constructing a house. The last thing you want to do is short the layin for time.
I often spend half of my allotted time for a painting on the layin.
I usually layin paintings in transparent burnt sienna. I can paint in the shapes and if they are off I can remove them with a rag. Until I touch the white, I can push the design around as long as I like. The minute you touch the white, you are "locked down": and into the second and less adjustable phase of a painting.
If you have a monochrome layin right, you can hang your colors on it very quickly. If you have been impatient and rushed the layin, you will lower your batting average. You may chase gremlins about the canvas instead of driving to a finish. If your layin is well made, you can boldly lay your color over top off that and get a look of decision and freshens. A layin that is labored begets a painting that is easy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I will be holding a three day workshop at the Bass Harbor Campground in Bass Harbor, Maine. the 25-26-27th of September. That's Saturday-Monday. We will paint outside and I will teach beginners to experts the art of outdoor landscape painting.
Here is a link to where you can sign up
Reservations at the Bass Harbor campground can be made here.
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26 comments:
Great painting!
Wow- gorgeous painting!
Wise words, Stape. Stay away from the white and get your layin nailed down. I have a video on my blog right now showing my transparent layin which in my case acts as an underpainting. Same process, just a different method of finishing.
Whenever I start a painting without a lay in ( I call it an under painting though that may not be technically correct ), I am always sorry. It takes twice as long, more paint and some heart ache without that up front lay in work done.
And likeDeborah, I finish in a different method, using pallet knife and all.
Lesson Learned.
Thia is a beautiful painting. Thanks for the reminder about laying in. I tend to be a lazy painter when I use oils and try to speed through the process. Your post has convinced me to change my ways.
Terrific post. Very validating as I have come, over the past few years to the same practice. Seems like a lot of the bigs start off this way. (See Deborah Paris's blog today) After the layin, what do you like to do next? Establish the lights? Go after the largest area? Start in the middle? Do you start herding sheep immediately?
I must meet this Stapleton Kerns.
Ditto what Susan said. You make it look so EASY.....I only wish it were.
There's a great passage in George Inness Writings and Reflections on Art and Philosophy that describes this very process. Inness used raw umber and did add lights because he let the whole thing dry before adding color. Just a slightly different approach.
These two, the lay in and the colored canvas look wonderful. How did you keep the color fresh working into the wet burnt sienna?
I would like to attend your Sept. 25 - 27 workshop at Bass Harbor Campground with another artist friend. We won't be staying at the campground but at a nearby Inn. Can we still sign up and how?
Nora
Great post--it totally makes sense. I learn so much from your blog and find I refer back to different posts a lot. I'm going to try this on my next landscape. Beautiful painting!
Interesting Stapleton. I've never spent half the time on a painting sketching the underpainting, though I can see it's value. Drawing is certainly the most important, if most neglected, aspect of painting. You're a really good artist.
Meanwhile, I'm going to email you about something here.
How can you tell if it's a GOOD lay-in or not? Is it the level of detail or accuracy?
Ginny:
Thanks.
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Susan;
I think you are gorgeous too.
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Deborah;
Thanks.How about sending me a link for that?
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Marian:
I habe learned that the hard way.
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Nancy;
Thanks. Haste makes waste!
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Willek; I will get to that.
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bill:
I am better imagined than met.
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Yvonne;
The better you get at it, the harder it becomes.
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Lucy; I chose burnt sienna because if some gets up into the paint it usually looks good!
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Nora, click on the link at the bottom of the page and sign up. You can stay anywhere you like. Stay at Asticue if you can afford it.
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Stephanie;
Thanks Ilike to feel useful!
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Martyn;
I think that half time on a layin works well, sometimes I do less but .....
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Molly:
I answer your question out front on the blog.
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