Fact: Underpainting Adds Depth Is underpainting part of your art process? While many contemporary artists use this technique, underpainting was the ‘standard’ among the masters. Underpainting is defined as the first coat of paint, especially the initial painting on a canvas. The major areas, tones, colors, and forms are indicated in mass.…

Artists call it underpainting: a layer of paint that goes on first, as a base coat, to provide a foundation for finished work, adding depth and tonal qualities to later layers in acrylic and oil paintings. Colors vary. I’ve read that some contemporary artists use this technique, though it was much more common by the greats before them.…