The First Step When Painting
In this post, we explain the importance of starting a painting from the background and moving forward, avoiding errors and saving time.
In this case, we’re going to create a light and simple background to emphasize what we’ll have in the foreground, which is a bouquet of flowers.
We’ll try to make a very simple background so as not to detract from our main subject.
I’m using turpentine as a thinner to make it dry faster. It also helps a lot when I need to lean on the canvas to make a precise detail.
Linseed oil is also an excellent thinner, although it keeps the oil paint fresher.
We’ll use Titanium White, Ultramarine Blue, and Violet for the background.
I’ll add a pinch of Burnt Sienna to avoid the color being too saturated.
We’re likely going to go over the lines. We’ll go into the flowers so that it becomes part of the background later on.
Try to get as close as possible.
It’s important to cover as much as possible.
I work with a thin layer of oil paint, not leaving too much material so that the drying process is also a bit faster.
As we move upwards, we can modify the color a bit to avoid it being too monotonous. I’ll add a bit more violet.
In this case, I haven’t done it, but we can make it slightly more saturated and then create a gradient between the two tones. This will give us an interesting background with a blur effect.
Starting from the background and moving forward in an oil painting is important for several reasons:
- Establishing composition: By painting the background first, you set the foundation upon which the composition will develop. This helps define the atmosphere and depth of the artwork from the outset.
- Layering: Oil painting is known for its ability to layer. Starting from the background allows upper layers to blend and integrate with lower ones more naturally, contributing to the sense of depth and texture in the painting.
- Detail control: Working from the background forward makes it easier to control details and overlapping elements. This helps maintain coherence in the artwork and prevents background details from being compromised by later layers.
- Corrections and adjustments: With a solid background in place, corrections and adjustments to upper layers can be made more effectively. If starting from the foreground and needing to make changes to the background later, it can be challenging to correct or fully cover what has already been painted.
In summary, starting from the background and moving forward in an oil painting provides a solid structure for the artwork, facilitates layering and textures, allows for better detail control, and simplifies corrections and adjustments as the creative process progresses.
You may also be interested in: HOW TO MAKE AN EASY AND DYNAMIC SKETCH
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NEW TECHNIQUE: How to Paint Hyper-Realistic Lights and Shadows in 3 Simple Steps
If you want everyone to be amazed and ask you how you achieve such realistic lights and shadows, then you need to learn this technique.
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How to calculate the color mixture for a natural look when applied to the canvas (even for faces and different skin tones).
The MAJOR mistake that many beginner painters make when mixing colors, making them appear inexperienced.
The third color in the shadow mixture that almost no one uses and how to calculate it (it is essential for cast shadows).
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