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The New Zealand Artist MagazineThe New Zealand Artist Magazine 1111

Paint
Oil and Water colour are most
commonly used because of their drying
times, however various mediums can
make acrylics take longer to dry, so they
can also be used.

Canvas Preparation
It’s up to you as to whether you like
to put a sketch down first or not, but
colour pallets for this technique are
best mixed before a sitting. This saves
huge amounts of time during the actual
painting session and can help your
image process.
Much like when singing where it’s
best to know the lyrics before trying
to sing the song, having harmonious
colours on your palette before painting
will save you from blundering about.

Brushes
Anything that holds paint, all
options are open. Brushstrokes end
up being a visible part of Alla Prima
pieces and through experimentation
you’ll find brushes that make strokes
you enjoy.
A general tip during painting, would
be to start with broader brushes, then
work your way through to the smaller
ones for detail. Try using square tip and
round brushes to see the difference.

Layers
As a rule of thumb start with darker
colour first, then work through to the
lights. Study your subject and try to
keep colours to their designated areas
to help minimise excess paint on your
canvas.

Overworking
Keep everything wet but try not to
overwork areas. Keep in mind that if

guidelines but the best way to paint is the way

you do it on the day.

Challenge yourself and be your own worst

critic, with every painting we complete or

abandon we learn more about what works

and what doesn’t. Only through output and

study of our own and others works, will we

develop.

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Below: Portrait of Jasper Schade van

Westrum by Frans Hals - 1645.

Medium: Alla Prima (wet-on-wet) oil on

canvas.

Dimensions: 800 × 675mm (31.5 × 26.6 in)

Current location: National Gallery in

Prague.

‘Rowing Home’, by Winslow Homer - 1890. 350 × 505mm. Alla Prima watercolor on paper.

you brush the same spot more than

three times with the same loaded

brush, you maybe taking off paint

rather than putting it down.

If you’ve made a mistake try

scrape the paint off and try again. If

it’s unsalvageable, remember the

lesson for the next painting.

Canvas

White is stark, lifeless and you’ll

rarely find it in nature. You don’t

want to be using all your paint trying

to cover up a brilliant white canvas.

A canvas with a neutral toned

base colour will help any painting

(or drawing).

Also, we have arrived at this age

of art because people before us have

experimented and tried different

things. So can you. Try painting on

wood, iron, wove flax or hessian

sacks for interesting effects that differ

from the norm.

Confidence

There is no right or wrong way to

create art. There are millions of helpful