Underpainting Techniques on UART Paper

 I hope you'll enjoy these seven videos covering three unique underpainting techniques on sanded paper. I absolutely love the versatile and durable UART surface, employing it in a variety of ways to achieve differing results. Discover how a watercolor wash, complementary alcohol wash or local color mineral spirit wash can be a powerful and effective way to develop your next landscape in pastel.

Watercolor Wash

PART 1: The UNDERPAINTING

See how a transparent watercolor painting can serve as a lovely foundational layer for soft pastel.

PART 2: WATERCOLOR WASH

See how bold loose strokes of opaque soft pastel are placed over the soft transparent watercolor to produce a wonderful visual effect.

Complementary Alcohol Wash

PART 1: COMPLEMENTARY UNDERPAINTING

Soft pastel is used sparingly to mass in the complementary color zones. Denatured alcohol is used to wash in the underpainting. 

PART 3: REFINING THE PAINTING

The final stage of this painting reveals refinement techniques including blending and softening, while still using bold application of strokes. Care is taken to allow the underpainting to flicker through. 

PART 2: MASSING IN

ush greens are applied in soft pastel over the reds for a stimulating color combination. The overall painting is massed in loosely with color.

MINERAL SPIRIT Wash

PART 1: LOCAL COLOR WASH
Learn how to block in the basic colors and shapes with soft pastel, then apply a wash with odorless mineral spirits.

PART 2: MASSING IN WITH SOFT PASTEL
Observe how quickly the painting emerges after the local colors have been established, resulting in a fresh and painterly result.

Have you enjoyed what you've learned? Why not take a live workshop or online course and allow me to encourage your creative development!