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Trees - underpainting and adding visual texture


My most recent acrylic and collage experiment was with underpainting and with adding a large area of visual texture.  I like how adding these first layers can unify all the colors that follow.

Is it a masterpiece?  No.  Did I learn something and do I like it?  Yes :-)


1. Choose a color to do your underpainting.  I used ochre, and I let it dry almost completely before adding more colors.  Even though I wanted the ochre to influence the other colors, I didn't want them to become too muddy.



2. Use walnut ink spray through a large stencil or mask.  I used a plastic mesh bag.



3. Add thinned acrylics or glazes over the piece.



4. Draw your design.  I used a dark brown Faber-Castell Pitt pen in the brush style.



5. Add details.



6. Add more color and collaged layers.  I colored each leaf in first and allowed them to dry, using a stronger application of the same color used in the top third of step 3.  Then I cut and adhered single-layered white tissue ovals over the tree branches.  Finally, I added a very thin glaze of the same color around the ovals, allowing it to pool at the edges somewhat.

Copyright 2016 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. The tutorial may be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

Comments

Cherie Burbach said…
Very nice! Thanks for showing your process. :)