Portrait Artist Forum - View Single Post

Karin Wells · 04-17-2002, 08:49 AM

Up until the 1800's or so, many portrait painters of the old school traditions underpainted the face and hands of the sitter and then painted the rest of the picture a la prima.

Currently I am useing a traditional grisaille on the face and hands but use a shortcut method of underpainting on the rest that approaches (but isn't really) a la prima.

I believe that there are no rigid "rights or wrongs" in methods of painting as long as the result looks like you want it to look.

A la prima is much faster than grisaille and quite frankly, if I knew how to make that look good, I'd be doing it.

I have a lot of paintings in me and I can't possibly live long enough to paint them all. I prefer to make things happen as fast as possible as I am an impatient person!

04-17-2002, 08:49 AM	#15
Karin Wells FT Pro, Mem SOG,'08 Cert Excellence PSA, '02 Schroeder Portrait Award Copley Soc, '99 1st Place PSA, '98 Sp Recognition Washington Soc Portrait Artists, '97 1st Prize ASOPA, '97 Best Prtfolio ASOPA Joined: Jun 2001 Location: Peterborough, NH Posts: 1,114	Up until the 1800's or so, many portrait painters of the old school traditions underpainted the face and hands of the sitter and then painted the rest of the picture a la prima. Currently I am useing a traditional grisaille on the face and hands but use a shortcut method of underpainting on the rest that approaches (but isn't really) a la prima. I believe that there are no rigid "rights or wrongs" in methods of painting as long as the result looks like you want it to look. A la prima is much faster than grisaille and quite frankly, if I knew how to make that look good, I'd be doing it. I have a lot of paintings in me and I can't possibly live long enough to paint them all. I prefer to make things happen as fast as possible as I am an impatient person! __________________ Karin Wells www.KarinWells.com www.KarinWells.BlogSpot.com