Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Any tips for working Alla Prima Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:39 am
Hi everyone! I ususally work Alla Prima but still feeling like I have a lot to learn. I would appriciate any tips you could offer for working in this manner.
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:14 am
I found this wonderful explanation of how to paint Alla Prima here: http://www.finearttips.com/?p=2386
■ First lay in the darks Keep the darks thin and transparent Paint dark to light Dark = Transparent Light = Impasto
■ Next build up the lights Allow the lights to get thick and impasto. Paint thin to thick Thin = Transparent Thick = Impasto
■ Mass in the shapes For the most part, I start my paintings with massing in the shapes as opposed to a drawing. This allows my “direct paintings” to stay loose and painterly. On occasions, I will start with a drawing but, mass is my choice.
■ Value Establishing value in the very beginning is so important.
■ Focal Point Generally speaking, I will try to keep my center of interest developed ahead of the rest of the painting at all times.
■ Keep focused A constant vigil on contrasts and comparisons is made throughout the process. It’s so easy to go off on a tangent and develop the parameters of the painting but, this can also be the demise of the work as well.
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:19 am
I found this video very educational for Alla Prima and portrait painting:
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:26 am
Great video on Alla Prima painting. Great tips!:
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:38 am
Another good one for Alla Prima I love watching people paint:
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:46 am
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:55 am
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:57 am
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:09 am
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:15 am
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:16 am
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:18 am
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:20 am
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:21 am
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:22 am
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:23 am
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:24 am
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:25 am
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:27 am
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:29 am
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:30 am
Callie Moderator
Posts : 1233 Join date : 2009-11-21 Location : St. Louis, MO USA
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Thu Jan 14, 2010 11:52 am
I haven't watched all those videos yet , so I'll be lazy and ask you instead - Is there anything about this artist's method that jumps out at you as an especially useful technique for alla-prima painting? He's very good at it, by the way. I've never pulled off an actual alla-prima (except for the little 6x6 squash in my sig line), but am experimenting with our Jan. Challenge subjects to pick up the pace - no layering/glazing, just put the paint on it and keep moving. Trying to stay "in shape" for some more plein air painting. Do you complete one area at a time, or paint all over?
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Thu Jan 14, 2010 3:03 pm
Callie, I haven't really had the time to study the videos in depth but the Tom Pinch ones are chalked full of great technique if you watch closely. The way he does some wet on wet painting, the way he starts from his center of interest and works out from their. I'm sure once I have more time to study them more I'd have a hole list of things. I plan on watching each one paying close attention to the way he lays down his strokes, holds his paintbrush and deals with color.
I really like the squash. I think working small is the best way to learn alla prima.
I usually work dark to light working all over. I also do one area at a time if the painting happens to have a lot of different elements still working dark to light. I guess the only exception would be on a black gessoed ground then my process is reversed and I work light to dark.
kbaxterpackwood
Posts : 94 Join date : 2010-01-22 Location : Iowa
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Sat Jan 23, 2010 2:16 am
Wow thank you for finding all of those links!
Kimberly
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Any tips for working Alla Prima Sat Jan 23, 2010 10:05 am