This is the second post in the work-in-progress of the Uptown series of paintings. Previously, I had shown how this image was conceived and composed, this post is about the foundation of the painting itself. Through the thumbnail, the skeleton or framework is in place and now begins the process of laying in the underpainting or putting some meat on those bones! Typically this is the thinnest layer of paint and also the flattest. The concern at this stage was not necessarily getting everything to final details but to establish the overall color harmony and remove the white of the canvas. Without the bleaching white of the canvas, it is much easier to determine correct color relationships and values as the painting progresses. The underpainting here consists of mostly washes; washes being very, very thin oil paint. Usually oil paint is thinned using turpinoid (a turpintine substitute) or mineral spirits, either of these is used get the paint to an almost watercolor-like quality and brushed across the canvas. Often times, these washes can acheive wonderful effects that can be maintained through to the final stages of the painting. Of course, the areas where you want the wash to show through must be planned ahead so that you don't cover us the effects with opaque paint. This underpainting stage is also your last opportunity to make any major changes to your composition (should you need to), because it is much easier to wipe away a wash than to scrape off and repaint an area. I, of course, have done my share of both!
This is the stage of the painting where the pieces start to get a bit more solid. The paint starts getting thicker and I am starting to work towards final details in some areas. I started this session out on the part that was the farthest away, the sky. This still holds to be one of my favorite parts of this painting! The montage element is mostly put in and at this point I am looking to boost the contrast there only slightly higher, because I am wanting the words to stand out and be legible from across the room. There is a faint ghost of the people still remaining but since I'm dealing with an opaque paint I can always paint them in on top of the background.
In the next post, I'll be showing the final two stages and I'll do one final post on this painting for the final. I hope you've enjoyed watching this process unfold and I encourage you to get out there and slap some paint around. Anyone and everyone can paint or draw! If you can write, then you can draw! Painting is only drawing with a brush, it is a skill and talent helps but persistance will go a long way towards any goal. Be brave and try something new! Thanks for following along.
