1214 by susan on 01/02/02 at 8:11 AM
Re: fat over lean

In Reply to: Re: fat over lean posted by Prof.Philip Rubinov-Jacobson on 01/01/02 at 10:02 AM:

If only three layers, I would suggest:

First Layer - just oil paint diluted with solvents, no linseed oil

Second Layer - oil paint, diluted with solvents, and just a little bit of linseed oil

Third Layer - oil paint, solvents, more linseed oil.

The idea is to decrease the amount of solvents and increase the amount of medium (linseed) as you add each layer.

This article should help you regarding mediums:
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/9187/52849

This article will help with the glazing process:
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/9187/57882

:
: COMMENT from Prof.PHIL

: I do not know who wrote the above, but, 'fat over lean' refers to a 'mixed' technique of painting oil (fat) over tempera (a water base -"lean") as used by the old Flemish and German masters, i.e. Van Eyck, Durer, etc... The principle of fat over lean is especially applicable in the use of glazing resin-oil colors over an underpainting (monochrome) done in egg tempera white over an earthen colored ground (imprimatura) or red ground as used by the Dutch masters....I teach these techniques in Austria every year...see my web site at
: sincerely,
: Prof.Phil

Perhaps that is where the idea originated from (although I have not checked since I am not an expert in tempera painting, but in oil painting). I assure you that the technique of fat over lean in oil painting was derived from the old master Jan van Eyck during the Northern Rennaissance period. It is specifically the technique I explained, and if you did your research you would see I am right.