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Underpainting explained
Use an underpainting to organise value, temperature and composition before detail.
Start here
Use an underpainting to organise value, temperature and composition before detail. The aim is not to create one rigid rule, but to give you a dependable starting point you can test in your own practice.
The working principle: make the simplest useful decision first, then add complexity only when it improves the work or the business.
Practical checklist
- Choose a ground colour that supports the intended mood.
- Establish the largest value masses first.
- Keep the first layer simple and fast.
- Allow parts of the underpainting to remain visible where useful.
What to do next
Try the advice on one real piece of work rather than redesigning your whole practice at once. Record what changed, what it cost and whether the result was genuinely better.