How to Block in Color in an Oil Painting
The practice of blocking in color on a painting is usually among the first steps of creating an oil painting. When someone refers to "blocking in color," this means the artist is painting a foundation of color that will be painted over with highlights, shadows and details. The block areas of color are the basic shapes of each element of the painting.
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Instructions
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Draw the elements of the painting onto the canvas. Don't include details, only the most basic shapes.
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Thin your paint with paint thinner. Do this by dipping your paintbrush into paint thinner and allowing drops of thinner to fall on the paint on your palette. For oil paints, you will thin the paint with turpentine. Other less toxic and odorless paint thinners are also available. You can purchase these at art, hobby, hardware or craft stores.
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Dip your paintbrush into the paint on the palette and fill in the basic shapes of color on the canvas. These colors should be the base colors of each element of the painting. There should not be details, or shadows, or highlights. Use a medium-sized paintbrush on all shapes except for very small blocks.
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Now that your basic block bases are complete, you can continue your painting, adding detail, shadows, and highlights.
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Tips & Warnings
Clean your brush when switching colors, or use separate paintbrushes for different colors. Clean your brushes by swirling them in paint thinner then wiping them off on a rag.
The practice of building up thicker layers of paint as you apply paint to the canvas is important in oil painting. This is known as the rule of "fat over lean." Lean paint which is thinner paint, dries faster than the layers of fat or thick paint. The slower drying paint must be on the upper layers of the painting to prevent cracking.
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
