The Black Mermaid “Under Painting Processes”

Beginning an oil under-painting with burnt sienna and burnt umber involves establishing the fundamental values and composition of your artwork. Start by preparing your canvas with a thin layer of burnt sienna, diluted with a medium such as linseed oil or a solvent to create a warm, translucent base. This initial wash helps unify the surface tone and adds warmth to the subsequent layers.

Next, use burnt umber to sketch the major shapes and shadow areas, focusing on the tonal values rather than details. These two earth tones create a natural, muted palette that is ideal for mapping out the light and dark contrasts of the composition. Burnt umber’s cooler, darker quality complements the warmer burnt sienna, allowing you to build depth and dimension effectively.

Work quickly while the paint is still wet to blend the two colors softly in areas where shadows transition to light. This process, often called a “grisaille” or monochrome under-painting, sets a solid foundation for applying color layers later. Keeping the brushstrokes loose and gestural at this stage ensures flexibility in refining forms during the painting’s progression.