Preliminary Underpainting

The Italian Influence

Underpainting Painting in Process

Here we have the very early stages of the painting process, a preliminary drawing in oil.  The Italian style of painting requires an underpainting.  The drawing is always the structure underneath.  Nonetheless, the process of painting compared to drawing, however, is a process all of its own.  You are essentially drawing with a form of wet medium, a sort of liquid, like painting with colored yogurt.  So, instead of drawing with a pencil, I'm drawing with a paint brush and a wet medium.  There's a lot of "back and forth" in terms of the artist eye and hand capturing the forms, shapes, and values.  It doesn't come together all at once.  It actually takes lots of time, patience, and the strong ability to "focus."  That said, the painting will also go through an "ugly duckling" period where you think it looks bad.  Very bad.  And it does look bad!  So you have to have the inner strength and determination to battle through it like a strong grip on your machete working your way through the jungle.  Then eventually the painting suddenly appears like a little village up ahead and everything starts to come to life!  This preliminary underpainting, for example, is still very much in the "ugly duckling" phase.  Most people don't realize this but the work of the artist is genuine work!  Everyone thinks we artists are a just bunch of jobless butterflies, but that's only because they don't understand the concept of having "a purpose in life"!  Being an artist is not for sissies!  It requires inner strength and resilience that never comes from others, especially others.  Despite the judgement and criticism, you must never lose your faith, even when everyone else perceives you as not having a "real" job!  So, if your trying striving to be an artist, you're going to have to learn to ignore the naysayers and especially the people who just want to bring you down.  As an artist, I have a unique vision and it doesn't depend on what others think of me.  Works of art don't create themselves!  So never stop believing in yourself, just ignore those who criticize and judge you and keep marching on full speed ahead!  

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