The Gallery forum: Old Master's Class
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| I completed a class where the technique that the Old Masters (list of some of them - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Master) used of underpainting, or completing the painting in monochrome layers beneath the top, full color layer. We each chose a painting that was done by an Old Master - I chose "The Lacemaker" by Vermeer. Here's his painting:
In the end, only kindness matters. Art and Artists & The Reading Room http://cubits.org/thereadingroom/ |
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| First, we used a projector to trace the painting onto a prepared canvas. A neutral layer of paint was applied, then we started painting. This is my first layer of burnt sienna - I liked it so much I wanted to leave it like this, lol.
In the end, only kindness matters. Art and Artists & The Reading Room http://cubits.org/thereadingroom/ |
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| Then we went over that layer (after it had dried for a week) with black & white, mixed to at least 7 gradations of gray. Unfortunately, between my teacher's camera, my scanner and probably your computer, this picture is pretty over exposed. On the other hand, it's kind of neat because you can see the sienna layer coming through, which it continues to do throughout the layers of paint. But you can also see why this is called the "Dead Layer". It really should look purely black and white.
In the end, only kindness matters. Art and Artists & The Reading Room http://cubits.org/thereadingroom/ |
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| Two weeks later we actually used color (it was *so* intimidating at that point). You'll probably notice that my canvas looks to have different colors than Vermeer's painting above, but we used at least three different examples from books and the web. In the end I just chose which one I liked best, lol.
In the end, only kindness matters. Art and Artists & The Reading Room http://cubits.org/thereadingroom/ |
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| Here's a clear "blurb" on what the purpose of all the layers is: "In its simplest terms, underpainting is a monochrome version of the final painting which fixes the composition, gives volume and substance to the forms, and distributes darks and lights creating an effect of illumination. " (http://girl-with-a-pearl-earring.20m.com/Girl_with_a_Pearl E...) Hope you found this interesting, thanks for looking! Oh yeah, here's me trying to poison myself with the paintbrushes in my mouth.... duh....
In the end, only kindness matters. Art and Artists & The Reading Room http://cubits.org/thereadingroom/ |
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| Wow!!! How impressive. Now the goal is to create your own original portrait using the same layering techniques. You did such a great job, you really did. It's been so long since I had a class like that i'd nearly forgotten the black/white step. I'd probably have just gone from drawing to sienna to color. How beautiful, Sheryl.....thank you for sharing. I love how you captured the light and shadow, creating such a great dimensional effect. Very very impressive! Hmmmmmmm.....please don't eat the brushes......or slurp the linseed.... |
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| Linseed oil - ewwww! Thanks, Sharran - I owe it all to my teacher, I'm afraid. But you're right, doing my own painting will be my next step. In the end, only kindness matters. Art and Artists & The Reading Room http://cubits.org/thereadingroom/ |
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| Sheryl, As a non artist, I really appreciate the explanations you provided. Just deepens my appreciation for the artists. |
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| Awesome~ I am fascinated by your talent! The process is interesting, but seeing you actually doing it makes it all "real." Thanks for letting us watch it happen. |
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| It's interesting, isn't it - this is in some ways a walk through history, with a good teacher you hear about all sorts of things they did - using the camera obscura, how they made their paints, etc... In the end, only kindness matters. Art and Artists & The Reading Room http://cubits.org/thereadingroom/ |
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I just found your thread Sheryl. Thanks for the education. So interesting and you did such a great job!!!  |
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| >blush< Thanks, Sherri! In the end, only kindness matters. Art and Artists & The Reading Room http://cubits.org/thereadingroom/ |
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| Sheryl, speaking of Old Masters... I saw this on the web today. You surely are in good company. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38279189/?GT1=43001 |
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| *Very* interesting, Stormy, thanks! Sheesh - 30 layers only half the thickness of a human hair. Amazing. In the end, only kindness matters. Art and Artists & The Reading Room http://cubits.org/thereadingroom/ |
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| It is pretty amazing, isn't it? Hard to believe all those thin layers could even be counted. Bet da Vinci never gave a thought to how many layers he was painting. |
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