Process Series: Underpainting
When working with color I sometimes get over enthusiastic and literal resulting in a piece that looks like a rainbow thru up everywhere. To help prevent this from happening there are two techniques that often use and this project makes use of both of them.
The first is to use a limited color palette. Personally, this helps me focus on the value relationship and mood I want to establish in an illustration rather than what color an object is. Using different values creates interest and drama in the work. The points of highest contrast attract and guide the viewers eye, so it is important for you as the artist to know what you want to say and use color and value to communicate that.
Secondly, I block in color to get an idea of how all of the colors and values relate to one another. I tend to love little details in illustrations, but often focussing on details too early will have a negative effect on the overall piece. Blocking in color will establish a framework in which to add details without detracting from the overall message you are trying to communicate. Remember to stay loose when blocking in color. It is not final! Use basic shapes, don’t get bogged down following lines exactly. Staying loose will help keep the energy from the sketch alive and allow you to think of the piece as a whole.
These two techniques are similar in that they both help to bridge the line sketch with the final painting. They are techniques that help to further refine your composition. Moving form a line sketch to final painting is a huge step and the underpainting is there to add another stepping stone early in the process to help save you time and frustration.