Grisaille technique | Winsor & Newton Masterclass

Grisaille is a term to describe a monochromatic painting process, used to map out the tone before colour is developed. The Flemish painter Jan van Eyck successfully exploited this technique to develop form and space. Here we will mix two palettes of grey, one with Mars Black for a dark neutral bias and one with Raw Umber for a dark warm grey range, both will be mixed with Underpainting White. Underpainting White is perfect for this purpose as it has a low oil content and is quick drying. Each palette will have 5 colours, bracketed by the darkest colour and white for two of the colours. To begin, a perfect middle tone is mixed; from that middle grey, the darker colour is added to create a darker grey and a fifth mixture is created with the addition of white to the middle grey, to make a lighter grey. These two palettes provide a neutral and a warm range of 5 greys for you to work with. Using these, you can explore underpainting with this limited palette to see how tone creates form.
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[@antiquemacabre]

This was really interesting. It sort of runs parallel to using shades of grey on a multiplied layer for shadows in a digital painting. Thank you for sharing this technique.

[@warmwomyn]

Thank you! First lesson in grisaille

[@armarat7419]

Good, but much too short! You need a section that discusses glazing over grisaille, and the virtues of transparent paints.

[@warmwomyn]

It says part 1 (of 5)

[@armarat7419]

@@warmwomyn can you say where it says that? I dont see it in the title or description or intro.

[@okyomiart]

Love it 🖤

[@dennisblogg]

I tried to use lamp black and zinc white but the zinc white seems to have a blue tint to it as my lighter values become bluish. Going to try with titanium white, but a bit afraid that I won't be able to glaze with it as with zinc white.

[@damien706]

This is what the raw umber is for. I personally mix equal parts black and rawnumber before adding flake white. Black and white always looks a little grey. Flake white is a nice alternative to titanium is very vwhite and chalky x

[@Aiyegb12]

Give it a go on a scrap mixing sheet If it doesn't work out that's ok!Trial and error is ok God bless you.One of my favourite verses that goes with that is phillipans 4:6.💗

[@cherylj.harris4967]

Yes!

[@elaineporter182]

Thank you

[@RaquelGarcia-bf9om]

Good!!

[@bersisdumann5876]

Good man

[@magicdrawing1012]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤