Just for something different, I decided to start my next small painting with an underpainting. I used Judy Treman's "disappearing purple" -- a mix of ultramarine blue and permanent alizarin crimson -- that she demos in her book Building Brilliant Watercolors. The idea behind this approach is that all your shadows are in place and the purple will act as a neutral when you apply the local color. Anyway, this is what it looks like with the underpainting completed:
currently untitled, 6" x 6"
I also chose to work on hot press paper. (What was I thinking? I may need my head examined!!) I honestly don't know if this will survive the next step of adding color. Hot press paper is not very absorbent and much of the underpainting could drift into mud when I start painting over it. I"ll use squirrel-hair and sable brushes and a light touch, but there are no sure bets. Stay tuned!!
currently untitled, 6" x 6"
