Underpants and the Art Studio…. {a Little 411 Fun}

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.

I began tinkering with paint in 2015, but didn’t learn about underpainting until a few months ago, while watching an artist on YouTube. Then, during a recent workshop, I heard the term again as Donna Downey added a layer of red paint to her canvas, explaining its purpose. Want to know more? Here’s a little 411 on the topic.

Steeped in art history, underpainting is a method I now employ. Not only does it eliminate a blank white canvas, I also love how bits of red peek through in my work.

However, always playing with words {here’s the fun part}….

I prefer to call it underpants.

Why?

It makes me laugh every time I say it!  😉

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