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Message
Posted
I am about to start an oil painting of hyenas. I don't want to sketch them in first and go around them with the background. Is this what I should do. I don't know what normal practice would be. I was thinking of putting the background in first. I'm not sure which way round to do it. Should I do them at the same time. I think what it is, is that I don't like painting backgrounds around things. What is the normal process in oils. I want to try and make a fair job of it at least. Thanks for any advice, my canvas board is ready to go.
Posted
Well you’ve seen plenty of my demos Denise, my preference is always to add a thin neutral ground colour to the board and take it from there in a series of stages.
This is how I was taught at college and I’ve never deviated from this method. Most professional artists adopt this principle also.
Cutting in a background and leaving objects untouched is not a great idea, they can and often look disjointed.
Paint your subject onto a background, keeping this initial background fairly thin is the best approach, you can beef it up later.
Draw in your subject matter almost immediately, you will need to allow some drying off between layers.
Shout up if you need more help.
Posted
Yes, that's what thought, I just wanted to be sure, thanks ever so much for your quick response Alan, I've already mixed Yellow Ochre, Sap Green, Dioxazine Purple, Primary Yellow and a mixing white. It's not a pretty colour, it's a gritty colour but I like the colour it's made. I'm using this for the ground colour. I can get started now. Thanks again.