I’ve titled this new painting Down on Prospect Avenue. The other day, I shared the painting after my first painting session with it.
I finished the under-painting on this canvas and started “over-painting.” What’s the difference between under- and over-painting?
During under-painting, I treat the painting like a pen and ink drawing. The lights result from allowing the surface tone (paper) to show through the paint. In Down on Prospect Avenue, the surface tone is a red-gray middle tone.
During over-painting, I treat the painting like a pastel drawing on dark paper. I add the local colors and the light tones.
In oil painting, it’s important to add the lights instead of letting the canvas or ground show through as you would in a watercolor. The best paintings combine solidly painted lights with transparent darks.
Down on Prospect Avenue is 44″ x 60.”