The Process of Transparent Colour

Painting in transparent oil colour, with much layering and glazing, has been the most traditional approach to oil painting. Although most useful in realistic renditions of portrait or still-life, the glazing process of the masters can be applied toward any oil painting. It is especially useful when attempting to create great illusion of depth, and light/dark contrasts. The process is a long one, requiring much patience and time, but the result is unlike that of any other form of art.

A Primed Surface
In order to begin a painting using transparent oil colour, it is extremely important to prepare a perfectly smooth, un-textured primed surface on which to paint. The surface should be completely non-porous by applying a sufficient layer of gesso or other primer. There should also be no texture or inconsistencies in the surface that would cause pooling or an uneven glazing. To learn more about how to prime a surface, click here.

Layer One - The Under-painting
Once the surface is ready, it is time to apply the first of a series of washes. This first layer is essentially an under-painting or sketch. The paint should be diluted with solvents so that the oil colour is very thin and transparent. The palette should be simple, comprising of one or two neutral colors. The paint should be applied quickly with a large brush in sweeping motions, creating mostly basic shapes and broad brushstrokes. The emphasis should be the placement of the subject with only a slight foundation of oil colour, and should only take approximately 5 minutes to complete. Drying time should be at least 12 hours, after which the next wash can be applied.

Layer Two - The Composition
The objective of the next layer is to set the composition of the painting. Using either the same large brush, or one slightly smaller, shapes can be developed while establishing the basic color tone of the painting. The palette can be expanded now to include some more color that will be prevalent in the final product. Still thin, the oil colour should be applied loosely with some attention to the transition from light to dark. This layer will take more time, approximately 30 minutes, and careful attention than the first, but it should still be completed fairly quickly using broad strokes. Again, the layer should be allowed to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Layer Three - Color, Depth & Form
With the composition and basic color scheme already set for the piece, the next layer uses an even smaller brush and concentrates more on using the oil colour to develop depth and form to the painting. The color can also be intensified and localized to each object within the painting, paying much attention to overall contrast and texture. Within this layer also is the opportunity to add some glazing mediums to the paint in order to start juxtaposing glossy strong areas to weak opaque ones. Click here to learn more on how to use glazing mediums in an oil painting. This layer will require much more drying time, especially if a lot of glazing mediums are used. Proceed to the next layer only when the painting is dry enough that it is no longer tacky to the touch.

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