by sargentx » Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:14 am
Interesting that you ask that. In certain scenarios it can be useful to do a tonal plan with some kind of darker color. Doing a full-out black/gray/white tonal painting first, then glazing it is a really old method....15th century old!
With the large paintings, I roughed in the overall silhouette of the ship with the darker and mid-tone colors (not grays, but the colors of those shadows and mid-tones). I kept this soft and built my lights out of this. So not exactly what you describe, but definitely related. On something complex like a ship, I find it easier to work the dark pattern early on to get the forms and shadow shapes down, then tease it out. Of course the images I've painted are quite dark and moody, so this approach makes all the more sense.
Interesting that you ask that. In certain scenarios it can be useful to do a tonal plan with some kind of darker color. Doing a full-out black/gray/white tonal painting first, then glazing it is a really old method....15th century old!
With the large paintings, I roughed in the overall silhouette of the ship with the darker and mid-tone colors (not grays, but the colors of those shadows and mid-tones). I kept this soft and built my lights out of this. So not exactly what you describe, but definitely related. On something complex like a ship, I find it easier to work the dark pattern early on to get the forms and shadow shapes down, then tease it out. Of course the images I've painted are quite dark and moody, so this approach makes all the more sense.