You are such a terrific instructor. I’ve said it before but thanks for making these quick tips. I wish I could properly express how much they have helped me!
Yes this was an excellent demo! 👏 great information and very interesting approach(how often do you see a purple toned canvas on other artists channels?) haha! Well done! Thanks
Excellent explanation! Most painters will tell you to tone the canvas with some color but not telling how this can influence the final painting result.
You have no idea how grateful I am for this video. These are the basics needed for new artists and it's so hard to find people teaching them. Thank you!
Thank you Diane, for your excellent demonstrations of color interaction...you show me how to analyze what is happening & take the guesswork out, and put logic into planning a painting.
This is the best explanation of under-tone (I've been calling under-paint - no more) I've seen! I need to teach this in a class & you have made it so very clear - I now know what to show my students! I am self taught & with great artists like you, I'm learning a lot! Thank you!
Wonderful. I've been stuck mostly uptight for a tone on a painting for the background actually. This has opened more possibilities in the whole painting! Diane, you rock :)
Thank you. Very interesting. It is amazing how different each color of blue looks depending on the under tone. It is tricky painting in that way. Takes a lot of experience and practice.
I have to say, as a watercolorist, I like your process of the notan on white vs a toned surface. It one of the copy cat things where I see others tone so I do as I think it's what is done. I have used Burnt sienna for quite some time in my acrylics. I'm going to try the notan based on my grayscale sketches. I'll watch your tip on that again.
Paul, I also have a free short video tutorial about how to find a notan. To watch it, go to my teaching website at www.diannemize.com , and click on Free Video Lesson in the menu.
Dianne, I found it!!! It's Quick Tip 251 THE BIG PICTURE in which you do a small preliminary study of a landscape with a pastel pencil on a gray gouache background. I am trying to avoid the use of a solvent (allergic) for undertoning. Would gouache or acrylic be a solution? Actually, you had once advised me that instead of using the combination of 50-50 solvent with linseed/poppy I can use just the oil, itself, and wipe off the excess. But, wouldn't that still make the painting too glossy? The fact is I am not really interested in undertoning, per se; but, I do want the paint to adhere. Thanking you once again for your practical solutions, Chaya.
Read somewhere that Vän Gogh painted the opposites i.e. yellow under a blue sky and red under greens! Have done that, but here there are more options! Interesting- have not tried! Thank you!
It would be interesting to take a single reference and do several studies of it using different undertones for each study. I've not tried that particular combination.
I am experimenting now. I did a sky with underpainting of ultramarine then clouds of cadmium orange deep/titanium white. I like the effect. The temperature difference I think draws attention.
Dianne, excellent video demonstrating the color temperature differential using different undertones. You remind me of my very fond teacher Ms. Sansone in Highschool. She was an excellent teacher, she even helped me in Math by showing me how Math was used by the Great Masters. Thanks you for sharing👍😃
Excellent explanation of how to approach the question of tone. I've been struggling with all the 'rules' and approaches individual artists use without every really understanding the why behind their choices. This quick tip really cleared up any confusion I had, and I can now make informed decisions in choosing a tone for my own paintings. Thanks!
Since I am a bigginer, what is the purpose of under toning of the canva? 1. To cover white color of the canva? 2. Helps to create rich colors when we start painting 3. Act as a primary color to cover the canva? Thanks of your video.
Thanks for your helpfull video ! I have a question about the undertoning : is it feasible to tone the canvas and split up in different colours of undertoning ?
Another excellent presentation and clarification: many thanks! Question: if the undertoned part is not totally dry before proceeding to the next step in the painting process, to what extent would a wet undertone affect the application of paint in subsequent steps?
Thanks, Grant. If the underpainting is not dry, the colors will mix with the next layer of paint. To the extent it mixes will depend upon how wet it remains. Usually, though, the toning will dry in about 15 minutes or so, depending upon how humid the atmosphere is.
Hi, Dianne. Re' Gael Hillyard's question: you did touch briefly on the subject of grisaille at the beginning of Quick Tip 294. What , myself, am trying to find is the Quick Tip where you do an underpainting in grey gouache and then a loose grid on top. Would you happen to know the title?Thanks, as always.
These are actually 2 topics (underpaint and undertone) that I think way too much on. Does it matter for either when using acrylic paints? What value do you use when under painting (middle tones I've heard)? As for the underpainting I've only used Umber...forgive me as I type this before watching the video you may already have answered these lol!
For one thing, Max. The toning of the canvas should be done with washes without white. Usually, artists won't take that value any darker than middle value, although it is an individual preference. And acrylic works great for this. In fact, some artists who paint with oils, use acrylics for the toning. Hopefully, the Quick Tip answered everything else.
I’m just wondering how this technique compares to adding the same amount of pigment as a glaze, after the fact. Something fun to experiment with I guess- Thankyou!
The amount of pigment in a glaze is determined by how much color change the artist wants to make with the glaze. The two approaches render entirely different effects to the work.
I don't use a medium while painting unless I need a passage to dry more quickly--then I use Liquin, but that rarely happens. For keeping the brush rinsed while I'm working I use either Gamsol or Turpenoid. After each painting session, I use Murphy Oil Soap to wash the brushes.
Seems that the undertoning is still wet so they mix to create the changes. But, if they are dry, how can we make use of this? By leaving the undertone visible as some painters do? Thx
The undertone is already dry. Thinner strokes of paint will cause a slight transparency that enables the undertone to show through. Also, leaving tiny gaps between some strokes will reveal the undertone, too.
Excellent, thank you. I would definitely lean towards the purple given the way our Scottish skies have been over the past few days. Is it possible to do a quick tip on grisaille and one on framing, please? (I am working through your videos at random and may not have reached those yet if they have been done before).
Gael, I was sure I had done a Quick Tip on grisaille, but we can't find it so perhaps I dreamed it. We'll put that one on the schedule, but because we film these several weeks in advance, it will be towards the end of the year before it appears. About framing, I have hesitated about that because it is such a controversial topic. Today's trend is to use decorator frames, but my stance is that the viewer should never see the frame first. My frames are always simple and just enough frame to isolate and cleanly present the painting. I don't appreciate overstated frames because too often they overpower the painting. If I can gain some clarity on how much my attitude about framing is an aesthetical choice rather than a bias, I'll finally make a Quick Tip on the subject.
@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Thank you Dianne. I totally agree re framing as it is a personal choice. I quite favour hangings that have just simple natural wood floating frames to offset from the wall when viewing for sale. I see alot of small works for in commercial galleries just as the canvas against a plain white wall and they often seem a little lost and unfinished, especially if in groups with other small paintings.
Hello Diane! Thank you so much for this video! 🙏🏼 It really helped to make sense of all the contrasting advice out there. I do have a question though! I used a blue undertone on my current work, now that it's drying, I am wondering what colour i should use for the underpainting. ( As in, where i sketch out the basic structures in the painting before really getting started.) Does it matter what colour I use on the blue undertone? Or is this not an issue?! Thanks in advance if you happen to respond to my question!! ❤
When you undertone the painting, you choose a color that is in some way going to enhance the colors you plan to use for the painting. Some artists tone with at complement, others tone with an analogous color. But, yes undertoning should serve a purpose, else why do it.
Thank you so much Diane! I toned it blue to bring out a more sombre feeling to the painting. I just needed to know if the underpainting i do on top of the blue undertone needed to be harmonious! Thank you so much!!! @@IntheStudioArtInstruction
@@chiefkendman6312 well she actually ended up answering my question. She is pretty good. This time she was talking about the influence of color in the painting, the undertoning helps guide your decisions on the colors and how they act with each other. least that is the message I ended up believing this video meant
Artists often use the undertone to guide the temperature of their colors. Depending upon how thick the paint is, the undertone will show through to a small degree. Also, some artists allow the undertone to show. It's a harmonizing tool, that's all.
The under tone only works when you are painting with thin paint but would it be useless if you are applying thicker paint that over come the under tone? Thank you.
Yes, I can see that. There are several painting terms that are used interchangeably and sometimes artist even make up their on terms. In a sense, since toning is under everything else, it is underpainting, but what goes over it could be called underpainting, too, depending upon the process an artist is using. Remember, in painting, it doesn't hurt to be flexible and not over-think the terms we hear people use.
So. The undertone sets the overall temperature of the painting thus effecting the viewer's perception of the painting. Correct? This being just one of many things used to evoke an emotional response of a viewer.
Thanks for this, I was looking for a video on this subject a couple of years ago and either didn't type in the right search terms or there are just very few videos out there. Even though oil paint can be largely opaque, an undertone can heavily influence the final outcome or be used strategically to shine through for the final result so this topic is quite important. The entire canvas can be undertoned but various areas at block in stage could be undertoned each with a different base and I'm wondering how you decide which is best. Experience I guess!
Wow Diane this is a game changer for me. As a self taught artist I so appreciate your instruction
My pleasure.
You are such a terrific instructor. I’ve said it before but thanks for making these quick tips. I wish I could properly express how much they have helped me!
My pleasure.
Yes this was an excellent demo! 👏 great information and very interesting approach(how often do you see a purple toned canvas on other artists channels?) haha! Well done! Thanks
Excellent explanation! Most painters will tell you to tone the canvas with some color but not telling how this can influence the final painting result.
I know.
This feels homey like a Bob Ross episode I love it
Thanks for watching.
You have no idea how grateful I am for this video. These are the basics needed for new artists and it's so hard to find people teaching them. Thank you!
You're so welcome!
Thank you Diane, for your excellent demonstrations of color interaction...you show me how to analyze what is happening & take the guesswork out, and put logic into planning a painting.
Great! It's a pleasure doing these.
Now I want to try one scene on multiple tones. You are a gem.
Have fun!
Watching this 2 years later, wow, SO helpful! Thank you!!!
You're so welcome! Have fun with it.
This is the best explanation of under-tone (I've been calling under-paint - no more) I've seen! I need to teach this in a class & you have made it so very clear - I now know what to show my students! I am self taught & with great artists like you, I'm learning a lot! Thank you!
Wonderful! Spread the word!
Wonderful. I've been stuck mostly uptight for a tone on a painting for the background actually. This has opened more possibilities in the whole painting! Diane, you rock :)
Thanks! And thanks for being a Studio Insider member.
As an artist, this is a valuable lesson.Thank you very much ,Diane.
You're very welcome!
Wow! I now understand under toning and how to use it. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
You are so welcome!
The best teacher! I really appreciate your lessons! You have made be a great painter
Thanks! 😃
Thank you for sharing your knowledge of art with us! I really appreciate it.
My pleasure!
Thank you this is the only video I could find to explain this and u made it so simple thank you🙏🙏
Glad it helped! Keep enjoying the journey.
Excellent tip on how to make an under painting work more for you. Thanks again.
Always a pleasure.
Thank you. Very interesting. It is amazing how different each color of blue looks depending on the under tone. It is tricky painting in that way. Takes a lot of experience and practice.
Thanks for watching.
I've always wondered about undertoning (or underpainting as some call it). This is a wonderful lesson that opens up possibilities. Thank you so much!
My pleasure, Carolyn. Have fun with this.
What an excellent lesson and demonstration. Thank you so much!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very grateful for this, Dear Dianne! Thank you🎨🌺
You bet.
This is excellent! What a great demo to show the influence of the undertone. Thanks!
You are so welcome!
As a beginner this video was very helpful thank you so much 😁
Glad it was helpful!
I have to say, as a watercolorist, I like your process of the notan on white vs a toned surface. It one of the copy cat things where I see others tone so I do as I think it's what is done. I have used Burnt sienna for quite some time in my acrylics. I'm going to try the notan based on my grayscale sketches. I'll watch your tip on that again.
Paul, I also have a free short video tutorial about how to find a notan. To watch it, go to my teaching website at www.diannemize.com , and click on Free Video Lesson in the menu.
Practicing under painting now n your podcast is timely !
Keep enjoying the journey.
Excelent! You explain clearly and show the results! thank you !
Always a pleasure.
Great explanation and demonstration of toned backgrounds and the effect it has on a painting. Thank you!
You bet.
With this instructional video, I could see how the different choices of the underpainting will affect the paint most clearly of all videos. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Fascinating and explained so well and clearly, thanks Dianne.
My pleasure, Kevin.
Dianne, I found it!!! It's Quick Tip 251 THE BIG PICTURE in which you do a small preliminary study of a landscape with a pastel pencil on a gray gouache background.
I am trying to avoid the use of a solvent (allergic) for undertoning. Would gouache or acrylic be a solution? Actually, you had once advised me that instead of using the combination of 50-50 solvent with linseed/poppy I can use just the oil, itself, and wipe off the excess. But, wouldn't that still make the painting too glossy? The fact is I am not really interested in undertoning, per se; but, I do want the paint to adhere.
Thanking you once again for your practical solutions, Chaya.
Chaya, the surface needs only to be receptive to the paint, so using oil alone and wiping it down thoroughly won't cause the painting to be glossy.
Excellent information. I have been painting for years, but still learn from you everyday!
Keep enjoying the journey.
Thank you for this golden rule. For years I'd played with under colours, making the top layer a little challenging. Which can be a lot of fun. 👏💯
You are so welcome!
Love this lesson yes will definitely give it a go. Thank you Diane
Have fun!
Read somewhere that Vän Gogh painted the opposites i.e. yellow under a blue sky and red under greens!
Have done that, but here there are more options! Interesting- have not tried! Thank you!
It would be interesting to take a single reference and do several studies of it using different undertones for each study. I've not tried that particular combination.
I am experimenting now. I did a sky with underpainting of ultramarine then clouds of cadmium orange deep/titanium white. I like the effect. The temperature difference I think draws attention.
Great! Have fun with this.
Dianne, excellent video demonstrating the color temperature differential using different undertones. You remind me of my very fond teacher Ms. Sansone in Highschool. She was an excellent teacher, she even helped me in Math by showing me how Math was used by the Great Masters. Thanks you for sharing👍😃
Oh thank you!
Thank you so much! Exactly what I needed ❤
You're so welcome! Have fun with it.
I have been searching for this information, and clearly demonstrated. Thank you
My pleasure. Have fun with it.
Phenomenal instruction, thank you for the guidance.
Glad it was helpful!
Wow, thanks, Dianne - very helpful to see the comparisons!
Great! It's all about how color influences color.
Thank you so much! such a clear explanation, i'll put it on practice today!
Enjoy the process.
You are the Best Teacher!!!😊
Wow, thank you!
Excellent explanation of how to approach the question of tone. I've been struggling with all the 'rules' and approaches individual artists use without every really understanding the why behind their choices. This quick tip really cleared up any confusion I had, and I can now make informed decisions in choosing a tone for my own paintings. Thanks!
You're very welcome! Enjoy the process.
Thank you so much - greetings from Spain!
You are welcome! Good to hear from Spain!
Since I am a bigginer, what is the purpose of under toning of the canva?
1. To cover white color of the canva?
2. Helps to create rich colors when we start
painting
3. Act as a primary color to cover the canva?
Thanks of your video.
All the above. Toning takes away the stark whiteness and sets the temperature of the color for the painting.
This is really interesting!! Thank you Dianne:)
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
Thanks for your helpfull video ! I have a question about the undertoning : is it feasible to tone the canvas and split up in different colours of undertoning ?
Yes. Just keep an eye on the color harmony of the undertoning.
Another excellent presentation and clarification: many thanks! Question: if the undertoned part is not totally dry before proceeding to the next step in the painting process, to what extent would a wet undertone affect the application of paint in subsequent steps?
Thanks, Grant. If the underpainting is not dry, the colors will mix with the next layer of paint. To the extent it mixes will depend upon how wet it remains. Usually, though, the toning will dry in about 15 minutes or so, depending upon how humid the atmosphere is.
Hi, Dianne. Re' Gael Hillyard's question: you did touch briefly on the subject of grisaille at the beginning of Quick Tip 294. What , myself, am trying to find is the Quick Tip where you do an underpainting in grey gouache and then a loose grid on top. Would you happen to know the title?Thanks, as always.
I think you're referring to Quick Tip 55, among the first ones we did. FYI- In that QT, I told you how to "spell" gouache, then left out the "a" 😊
Excellent! Thank you
Dianne!
My pleasure.
Thank you. You explained this so well.
You are so welcome!
Thank you so much for this. Very helpful.
You're very welcome!
What a great demonstration! Thank you Diane
Thank you, Karen. Have fun with this.
These are actually 2 topics (underpaint and undertone) that I think way too much on. Does it matter for either when using acrylic paints? What value do you use when under painting (middle tones I've heard)? As for the underpainting I've only used Umber...forgive me as I type this before watching the video you may already have answered these lol!
For one thing, Max. The toning of the canvas should be done with washes without white. Usually, artists won't take that value any darker than middle value, although it is an individual preference. And acrylic works great for this. In fact, some artists who paint with oils, use acrylics for the toning. Hopefully, the Quick Tip answered everything else.
Thankyou! I’ll try this with gouache.
Have fun with it.
Thank you, Dianne! Blessings!
You bet, and thanks.
I’m just wondering how this technique compares to adding the same amount of pigment as a glaze, after the fact. Something fun to experiment with I guess- Thankyou!
The amount of pigment in a glaze is determined by how much color change the artist wants to make with the glaze. The two approaches render entirely different effects to the work.
Hi Dianne, What mediums do you use e.g. turps, liquin, etc and how do you clean your brushes and what with?
I don't use a medium while painting unless I need a passage to dry more quickly--then I use Liquin, but that rarely happens. For keeping the brush rinsed while I'm working I use either Gamsol or Turpenoid. After each painting session, I use Murphy Oil Soap to wash the brushes.
Thank you for the info, Dianne
Seems that the undertoning is still wet so they mix to create the changes. But, if they are dry, how can we make use of this? By leaving the undertone visible as some painters do? Thx
The undertone is already dry. Thinner strokes of paint will cause a slight transparency that enables the undertone to show through. Also, leaving tiny gaps between some strokes will reveal the undertone, too.
Good tip as always.
Thanks 👍
thanks.. great tips.. !!
My pleasure!
Great tip!
Thanks for watching!
Hi! Can you tell us what kind of palette you’re using? It’s perfect for small spaces.
Barbara Ann, It's a Sienna Pochade Box. I have done a Quick Tip about that. See QT 172.
@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Thankyou Dianne! ❤️
So helpful! Thank you
My pleasure.
Excellent, thank you. I would definitely lean towards the purple given the way our Scottish skies have been over the past few days. Is it possible to do a quick tip on grisaille and one on framing, please? (I am working through your videos at random and may not have reached those yet if they have been done before).
Gael, I was sure I had done a Quick Tip on grisaille, but we can't find it so perhaps I dreamed it. We'll put that one on the schedule, but because we film these several weeks in advance, it will be towards the end of the year before it appears.
About framing, I have hesitated about that because it is such a controversial topic. Today's trend is to use decorator frames, but my stance is that the viewer should never see the frame first. My frames are always simple and just enough frame to isolate and cleanly present the painting. I don't appreciate overstated frames because too often they overpower the painting. If I can gain some clarity on how much my attitude about framing is an aesthetical choice rather than a bias, I'll finally make a Quick Tip on the subject.
@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Thank you Dianne. I totally agree re framing as it is a personal choice. I quite favour hangings that have just simple natural wood floating frames to offset from the wall when viewing for sale. I see alot of small works for in commercial galleries just as the canvas against a plain white wall and they often seem a little lost and unfinished, especially if in groups with other small paintings.
@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Yes, do grisaille!
Hello Diane! Thank you so much for this video! 🙏🏼 It really helped to make sense of all the contrasting advice out there.
I do have a question though! I used a blue undertone on my current work, now that it's drying, I am wondering what colour i should use for the underpainting. ( As in, where i sketch out the basic structures in the painting before really getting started.)
Does it matter what colour I use on the blue undertone? Or is this not an issue?!
Thanks in advance if you happen to respond to my question!! ❤
When you undertone the painting, you choose a color that is in some way going to enhance the colors you plan to use for the painting. Some artists tone with at complement, others tone with an analogous color. But, yes undertoning should serve a purpose, else why do it.
Thank you so much Diane! I toned it blue to bring out a more sombre feeling to the painting. I just needed to know if the underpainting i do on top of the blue undertone needed to be harmonious!
Thank you so much!!!
@@IntheStudioArtInstruction
are you leaving the undertone visible in areas? I do not understand how it influences it if it is covered with paint on top
Sometimes I don’t understand what she is talking about?
@@chiefkendman6312 well she actually ended up answering my question. She is pretty good. This time she was talking about the influence of color in the painting, the undertoning helps guide your decisions on the colors and how they act with each other. least that is the message I ended up believing this video meant
Artists often use the undertone to guide the temperature of their colors. Depending upon how thick the paint is, the undertone will show through to a small degree. Also, some artists allow the undertone to show. It's a harmonizing tool, that's all.
Thank you so Very Much!!!!!🌞🌺🏵💮🌸🕊
Samantha, thank you for watching!
The under tone only works when you are painting with thin paint but would it be useless if you are applying thicker paint that over come the under tone? Thank you.
Experiment with just thick the paint can be for the undertone to be useful. We can't make rules about those things because there is so many variables.
you're amazing! thank you :)
You're so welcome! And thanks!
Thank you for describing whar an underpainting is. Can you do a video on is
I think your sentence got cut off. What were you saying?
Thank you🎉 very helpful
Have fun with it.
It seems the terms "underpainting" and "undertoning" are being used interchangeably. This is a bit confusing.
Yes, I can see that. There are several painting terms that are used interchangeably and sometimes artist even make up their on terms. In a sense, since toning is under everything else, it is underpainting, but what goes over it could be called underpainting, too, depending upon the process an artist is using. Remember, in painting, it doesn't hurt to be flexible and not over-think the terms we hear people use.
Thanks for the video!
You bet!
"It doesn't help at all to follow rules" is going up in my studio.
😊
Good information. Thank you!
Our pleasure!
So. The undertone sets the overall temperature of the painting thus effecting the viewer's perception of the painting. Correct? This being just one of many things used to evoke an emotional response of a viewer.
The emotional response of the viewer is a result, but this technique mainly harmonizes the painting.
....amazing...!
Thanks.
I believe you are the Best of the Best!!!🌼💮💗🕊🌺🌸🏵🌞🌌😊💗
Wow, thanks.
diane i love you
Thanks!!!
It might be the second Prospek Quick Tip (not 239.) Thanks.
Oops. 😊
I hope I am like you when I am older
You make me smile.
thanks ..
You bet.
🙏
My pleasure.
👌👍🤗
Thanks
Would prefer an entire painting demonstration.
Of course, but Quick Tips are meant to be short and focused on one concept.
Thank you, this is so informing 🫶
Give it a try.
Thanks for this, I was looking for a video on this subject a couple of years ago and either didn't type in the right search terms or there are just very few videos out there. Even though oil paint can be largely opaque, an undertone can heavily influence the final outcome or be used strategically to shine through for the final result so this topic is quite important. The entire canvas can be undertoned but various areas at block in stage could be undertoned each with a different base and I'm wondering how you decide which is best. Experience I guess!
James, it's partly experience, but mostly determined by the overall temperature of the scene and how you want to interpret the subject.