207 by katy on 10/17/01 at 10:39 AM
thank you david for you patience

In Reply to: Re: fat whites vs.lean posted by david on 10/16/01 at 9:47 PM:

i liked the last part of your reply. that is exactly the feeling i am going for in terms of sensuailty , NOT piles of paint. i had only been instructed to use white paired with other pigments in underpainting , they said it had to be pastel , but that was conflicting with the depth effect . So i was inquiring as to its effectivess , BECAUSE i didnt like how it was looking. i wad told by the same source not to use pure pigs in underpaintng. But really , what great artist has ever listened to any other voice but their own . i need to abandon my sense of deeper anaylization and just get back to my studio and work it out in paint instead of the left brain. thanks for your advice .

: thank you for the info on underpainting . when i do underpaint , do i add white to that color ? And if so, pigment first, on canvas , then scubble in white ? - and i was a little unclear about fat whites. are you referring to titanium white ? and never in backgrounds , that helps me alot .i was confused as to this , for i was told all underpaintings should be pastel in nature and upon doing this it looked odd to me , flat and non- dimensional . i do know alot about color theory , but more on the watercolor level the opposite side of paradise . i like oils more for their sensuality thanks
also what brush is recommended for blocking in your first layer of colors , brights or flats and what size for larger paintings ?

: why do you want to add white????? gesso the support;dry;use a color;dry;block in the painting.(i use only sable brushes filberts ;flats are ok) fat paints are high in oil content and take a long time to dry titanium is heavy and fat. if you are going to do a pastel underpainting just stain the canvas with a wash of pure pigment very lean. if you have alot of color theory then think about the process! the sence of depth can only be enhanced by using underpainting and transparent washes. first try using a very limited pallet black, orche, red earth, cobalt, vandyke, zinc white. subject landscape with lots of greens. if by sensuality you mean piles of paint then underpainting will have very limited effects for you if you mean sensuality as a means of increaseing depth and tones and values of colors that you can't mix on a pallet then have at it and hold on to your hat because this process will knock you off your feet!