Alla Prima Technique: Oil Painting
Today we'll talk about ALLA PRIMA technique.
Hello there oil painting lovers, thinking of you, we've decided to create an amazing series of posts about oil painting techniques.
These techniques will help you to improve your skills and give you more confidence on your next paintings.
The Alla Prima oil painting technique is a direct, fast-paced approach to painting in which the artist works quickly and directly onto the canvas, without any preliminary drawing or underpainting.
Known as wet-on-wet oil painting technique, painting directly on top of wet paint without allowing the lower layer to dry. For this reason, the wet-on-wet method is also referred to as 'direct painting'
Art historians have pointed out that the "wet-on-wet" (or alla prima) technique actually originated in Flanders during the 15th century, and was used by Frans Hals, Diego Velázquez, Caravaggio, Paul Cézanne, John Singer Sargent, and Claude Monet, among many others.
Also, this technique can be traced back to the Renaissance era, when artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti would sketch their compositions onto a canvas or panel using a light brown paint known as “terra verde.” After the sketch was complete, they would then begin adding layers of color, working from light to dark.
Today, many modern artists still use the Alla Prima technique, as it allows for a more spontaneous and expressive approach to painting. When working in this manner, it is important to have a good understanding of color theory, as you will be working with a limited palette and layering colors on top of one another.
Here is a step-by-step guide to painting using the Alla Prima technique:
1. Choose your colors. You will need a limited palette of colors for this painting technique, so select a few hues that you feel comfortable working with. A basic palette might include white, black, yellow, red, and blue.
2. Sketch your composition. Using a light brown paint or pencil, sketch out the basic shapes and forms of your composition onto your canvas or panel.
3. Begin painting. Start by adding a thin layer of color over your entire sketch. Choose a light color for this first layer, such as white or yellow.
4. Save the Dark, Light and Vivid Accents for Last.
The Alla Prima technique is a great way to create expressive and spontaneous paintings. By working quickly and directly onto the canvas, you can capture the essence of your subject matter with bold and vibrant colors. Give it a try the next time you’re in the mood to paint!
D'Artisan Shoppe 15pc profesional brush set
4 natural hog hair bristle brushes and 11 synthetic bristle brushes to create the brush strokes you need.
