How to Do Underpainting With Acrylics and Why You Should

Underpainting with acrylics is a technique that has been used by painters for centuries. It’s a process of painting the background or underlying color of an image before you add the final details. This can be done with oils, watercolors, or acrylics.

Some artists believe that underpainting helps to create a more cohesive and unified finished piece. Others find it helpful in creating more depth and layers in their work.

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to do underpainting with acrylics and explain why you might want to try it yourself. Let’s get started!

What Is Underpainting?

Underpainting is a technique that has been used by artists for centuries. It involves painting a layer of color underneath the final layer of paint. This layer can be either opaque or translucent, and it can be used to create different effects.

For example, an opaque underpainting can help to define the shapes in a painting, while a translucent underpainting can create a sense of depth. Underpainting can be done with any type of paint, but it is particularly effective when using watercolors or oil paints.

But you can also do this not just with oil paints but you can also do this with acrylic paints as well.

The underpainting technique can be used to create a variety of different effects, and it is an essential tool for any artist who wants to create stunning works of art.

The History Of Underpainting

The history of underpainting is a long and complicated one, full of twists and turns. For centuries, artists have been experimenting with different techniques for making more complex paintings.

One early method was to first paint a light colour over the entire surface of the canvas, then to paint over that with a darker color.

This method is known as underpainting, and it was used extensively by Renaissance artists such as Leonardo da Vinci. However, the real golden age of underpainting didn’t begin until the 19th century.

It was during this time that old masters began to experiment with different mediums, such as oil paint and watercolor. These new mediums allowed for a greater range of colors and textures, making underpainting an even more versatile technique.

The method of drawing is believed to be the work of Titian whose famous works include Venus of Urbino, Assumption of the Virgins, Bacchus, and Ariadne.

Titian had pioneered underpainting and some arts historians think that he employed opaque underpainting with multiple shades for a more realistic effect. It is possible to tell that he left his under painting soft and adjusted it later to suit his needs. It’s covered in a opaque glaze and opaque colors.

Today, underpainting is still widely used by artists all over the world, and it shows no signs of going out of style anytime soon. Thanks for taking the time to learn about this fascinating technique!

What Can Underpainting Achieve?

Underpainting is a technique often used by artists to create an initial layer of colour before adding the final layers of paint. This base layer can be used to establish the overall tone of the painting, as well as to add texture, tonal values to the entire canvas.

Underpainting can be achieved with a variety of mediums, including watercolors, acrylics, and oils. The type of medium used will often depend on the artist’s preference and the overall effect they are hoping to achieve.

For instance, watercolors tend to be more transparent, allowing the underpainting to show through in the final painting. Acrylics, on the other hand, are more opaque, making them ideal for creating a solid foundation of color.

Regardless of the medium used, underpainting is an important technique that can help to make a more dynamic and interesting final artwork. Underpaintings are great for uniting colours and creating a subjective color key in paintings which make the tonal dominance. Underpainting is relatively straightforward however has significant effect on other parts of painting.

A stark white canvas can create lighter values because paint is transparent. Especially if you only have a single layer, other layers may appear as lighter areas. If you want to achieve the darkest values or the right darker and lighter areas, underpainting helps out a lot.

With underpainting, your blank canvas that is a stark white canvas can be started with thin washes. You can than build up the underpainting with thin a thin layer at a time.

It can revitalize mundane areas of painting such as the sky or the rolling fields, or act as a baseline to the painting’s feelings. Some examples:

A Tonal Under-Painting

For tonal underpainting, use only one color for covering your canvas. However, in this method, certain sections should not be covered to keep white canvas out. List of darkest parts of the area.

If you apply additional paint colors to a painting, a white painting becomes brighter and shines brighter. Overall this technique produces brighter upper color and helps develop a more complex subject.

Example: In this underpainting the value of painting is added while designing the painting is planned.

Tonal Grounds Under-Painting

Typically these kinds of underpainting cover the whole canvas in the same clear hue. The layer creates backlight shadows to color the canvas in an interesting way and to provide contrast against other colours.

Example: (Perfect in contrast with complementary colours; makes painting appear cooler).

How To Master Light Through Underpainting?

Are you having trouble nailing the perfect lighting in your paintings? You’re not alone – lighting can be one of the hardest things to get right in a painting. But there’s a technique that can help you master light, and it’s called underpainting.

Underpainting is a layer of color that is applied before the final layer of pigment. It can be used to manifest different effects, but it is especially useful for producing light and shadow.

By painting a light underlayer, you can produce the illusion of light shining through the top layers of paint. This technique is often used in landscape paintings, where the underlayer represents the sky and the top layers represent the land.

To make an underpainting, start by mixing a light color – such as white, yellow, or blue – with medium-sized amounts of water. Then, apply the pigment to your canvas in thinly and evenly. Let each layer dry completely before adding the next.

Once you’ve applied several coats of pigment, you can start working on your final artwork. The key is to keep your underpainting light – otherwise, it will be too difficult to see the effect of the light shining through.

With a little practice, underpainting can help you produce the perfect lighting for your paintings. So don’t be afraid to experiment – you might just surprise yourself with the results!

Do You Need Underpainting?

Any artist will tell you that a good painting starts with a solid foundation. The same is true for an underpainting, which is simply a coat of paint on the canvas before the main painting begins.

An underpainting can help to produce a sense of depth and dimensionality, as well as provide a stable surface for the subsequent layers of paint. It can also be used to correct any problems with the composition or color scheme of the painting.

It helps with getting the right contrast, texture, colour, color values and the overall mood. It’s just what the top layer of paint needs to achieve the perfect finished work. Most artists do this like the old masters.

The important aspect is that the later layers in a blank canvas achieves the right color through a wash or layering using a chosen color such as burnt umber or when using mineral spirits. It’s amazing what the first layer helps to achieve. You can then also add a thin wash of paint layers.

It just helps so much in optimizing the painting’s color palette, achieving the right tonal values and just what one needs in oil painting or with water mixable oils for future color placement. While some artists choose to skip the underpainting step, others find it essential to making a successful painting. Ultimately, it is up to each individual artist to decide whether or not an underpainting is necessary.

Painting Mediums Used For Underpainting

There are a variety of painting mediums that we can use for underpainting, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, the best painting medium for underpainting will vary depending on the artist’s preferences and the specific requirements of the project.

Tempera Paint

As any artist knows, choosing the right paint is essential for making a successful painting. While there are many different types of paint available, tempera is a good option for underpainting.

This thick, opaque paint is easy to work with and provides a solid base for subsequent layers of paint. In addition, it dries quickly, making it ideal for working in thin layers. Tempera paint is also relatively inexpensive, making it a good choice for artists on a budget.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re an experienced painter, tempera paint can be a useful tool for producing beautiful paintings.

Oil Paint

Oil paint is a popular choice for underpainting because it dries slowly, giving the artist time to work out the composition of the painting. It also has a smooth texture that helps to create a even foundation for the top layers of paint.

Another advantage of oil painting is easy removal – if the artist decides to make changes to the composition. However, oil paint can be more expensive than other types of paint, and it can be difficult to clean up.

As a result, it is important to consider all of the pros and cons before deciding whether or not oil paint is the right choice for your project.

Acrylic Medium

Acrylic paint is fast-drying, making it an ideal medium for underpainting. Unlike oil paints, which can take days or weeks to dry, acrylic paints dry in a matter of hours.

This means that you can start painting over your acrylic underpainting sooner, without having to wait for the underlying layer to dry first. So, if you don’t want to do a lot of waiting, acrylic is your go-to.

Acrylics also adhere well to most surfaces, including canvas, wood, and paper. Additionally, we use water to thin down acrylics, making it easier to control the consistency of your paint. For these reasons, acrylic paint is a popular choice for underpainting.

Color Temperature In An Underpainting

When artists begin a painting, they often start with an underpainting. This is a layer of color that helps to establish the overall tone and atmosphere of the piece. When it comes to underpaintings, one important factor to consider is color temperature when layering.

Warm colors like red and yellow tend to advance, while cool colors like blue and green recede. As a result, we often use warm colors to create a feeling of depth, while cool colors can help to make a painting feel more open.

Basics of Underpainting

An underpainting is a painting style in which an artist applies a base coat of paint to a surface before adding layers of color on top. This base coat can be either a single color or a series of colors, and it helps to establish the overall tone and atmosphere of the finished painting.

Underpaintings use either acrylic or oil paints, and you apply them to a variety of surfaces, including canvas, wood, and paper.

While some artists prefer to work from light to dark, others find it helpful to start with a dark base coat and then build up to lighter colors.

Experimenting with different techniques is the best way to find what works best for you. Whichever approach you choose, an underpainting can help you create a more polished and professional-looking painting.

Many artists use two main techniques each producing a unique result.

Understanding the Underpainting Technique

The next stage of underpainting starts by picking the colour. The underpainting best suits monochromatic colours. Some artists use dark colors such as raw umber burnt sienna and ultramarine blue for maximum effectiveness.

If underpaints give more value to the paisley, darker colors like red or orange are less effective. Use a solvent for painting oil paints or a turpentine to thin a paint layer.

Use of thinner colors helps reduce underpainting and allows it to blend with later coatings more easily. For people who prefer not to use solvent oil painting can be the perfect solution.

The Grisaille Method

It combines layers of darker or lighter shades of light and shadows for light and color into a canvas before using glazing or paints. Grisaille underpainting techniques often employ monochromatic shades in shades such as gray, burned umbers and neutral colours.

This is a template for your work. You already have dark tones on your canvas , making your final painting more interesting.

The Imprimatura Method

In Italian, Imprimatura translates into “first” painting layer. Using a underpainting style, painters can retouch a dark white surface without causing any noticeable effects. Imprimatura usually applies in a thin transparent coat which lets some white background appear.

A Step-By-Step Tutorial On How To Do Underpainting

Many artists choose to do an initial underpainting before adding their final layers of color. This can help to provide a solid foundation for the painting and also add an extra level of detail and dimension. Interested in trying out this process? Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to do underpainting.

To begin, select the colors you want to use for your painting. It’s typically best to stick with a limited palette, so choose 2-3 colors that will work well together. Next, mix up your colors and apply them to your canvas in thin, even layers.

You can use a brush or a palette knife for this step. Once you have your colors in place, it’s time to start adding shadows. To do this, simply use a dark version of one of your colors. Apply the shadow color in the areas where light would naturally fall away from the subject.

Remember to keep your brushstrokes nice and light – you can always add more shadow later if needed. Once you’re happy with the amount of shadow you’ve added, it’s time to start working on the highlights. For this, you’ll need a lighter version of one of your colors.

Start by adding highlights to the areas exposed to direct light. Again, don’t worry about being too perfect – you can always add more later. Once you’re happy with your underpainting, you can start adding your final layers of color.

Remember to take your time and work in thin, even layers. By starting with an underpainting, you’ll be able to create a more polished and professional-looking painting. So why not give it a try? You might just surprise yourself with the results!