The Umber underlayer

[zaanor]

Hello Friends

I have a question about the umber underlayer.

The tones of this layer are only ruled by how much painting you add to the medium? I mean: more medium less pigment = more transparency ; less medium more pigment= darker tones... is it?

I only should use burnt umber... no white or other colors to the paint?

(I'm asking it 'cos my umber underlayer seemed too dark for me...)

Thanks in advance

[liberty]

well
I use a white pallet to start the umber layer.
i would use a imprimatura colored pallet but i do not have one yet.
with the umber mixed with medium
my light areas are thin and the darker areas are thicker.
my lightest areas have almost no umber just enough to get the correct darkness.
the painting will build up more evenly as you paint the layers following alexie's technics.
the painting should look 3 d even in the bottom layers.

zaanor what did you buy for your lessons
remember my advice is limited I started painting 11 months ago and having fun with it.

[zaanor]

Hi

Thanks for your answer.

I just bought the first video workshop pdf... I never tried to paint anything.
So for my first try, I'm doing the apple of first free lesson (but I read all the pdf file first)

I made the medium in the proportions indicated and started to paint. One thing it's strange: My layers are very dry from one day to another, is that ok? I live in a very hot city (usually 34°C)

My first umber underlayer was too dark. So I passed to the Dead layer... the cold colors just "jumped out" the canvas and become very bright... Again it was very dry overnight.

That is it... Thanks again
Coments and questions are welcome

Zaanor

[I-need-Glasses]

Hi Zaanor,

How about posting your painting in the Oil painting techniques forum. There's many talented Artists and great info available there too.

Have fun,

Tom