Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Oil Underpainting for Rio Grande

11x14 oil on gesso panel
In order to create depth I first needed to do it in the underpainting. I used the foreground hill to move up and carry the viewer to the mesa and over the the horizon and down again. Since I normally paint the masses then dig out the form it was hard for me to put so much detail in an underpainting. But what I have learned at this point is you can't add when you glaze or else you cover your glazes.
Now it has to dry completely before glazing. Here's where the patience comes in.:-)

11 comments:

Jala Pfaff said...

Just don't watch the clock... :)

Donna T said...

The underpainting is a thing of beauty on its own! I can't wait to see it when you start adding color!

loriann signori said...

Jala, It is the waiting between the glazes that cooks my patience and the clock. It's so easy in pastel when I want a color I just glaze one over another. In oils I have to wait a day. I might need to find a compromise. Hmmmmmmmm. Alas, thus is life!

loriann signori said...

Thanks Donna! Hopefully it will be ready for some color tonight when the first rubbed in layers will go onto the panel.

Dale Sherman Blodget said...

Hey Loriann,
I hope you still consider it a compliment as I'm giving you the Passion for Painting Blog Award!

Karen said...

Can't wait to see this as it develops. It already feels like it has that Grand Space with the way you addressed the detail/lack of, relatives sizes, even the way we look into the image helps.

loriann signori said...

Hi Dale!
Of course I consider it a compliment! If there is one thing I am passionate about it is painting! Thanks for considering me.
Loriann

loriann signori said...

Thanks Karen! I am a little intimidated by the idea of glazing and figuring out the layers. I think I will try to treat it like a pastel. It is still wet tonight...even with the blow drier! Let me go check what you are up to now!

Melinda said...

This is looking quite luscious. I think you have what is necessary to do a brilliant painting with this approach. I'm so excited for you as you glaze and wait...glaze and wait.

Have you considered juggling three paintings at once? I think you have the right idea--to think of your oil painting like pastels.

loriann signori said...

Thanks Melinda!
Good idea about doing many at once...Turner had a circle of paintings he was working on. I am doing four glazed paintings at once. The hard part is I dislike leaving...I feel disjointed when I have to adjust to many lovers(paintings) at once. It's hard....I guess I'm loyal to the feeling and the have separation issues. :-)

loriann signori said...

Thanks Mary!