Using Underpainted Grounds
To Improve Paint Flow And Blending

by T. M. Smith
(Norfolk UK )

Particularly noticeable when employing Alla Prima(direct wet into wet Impressionist) style painting.

Acrylics can be pushed around the canvas and blended into adjacent brushstrokes when over-painting on top of previous dry acrylic paint or underlayers.

Also a common mistake is painting onto a white canvas as it is "too white" for most tonal subjects. Tinted grounds as tonal values as used in pastels can work better.

Hence dilute a large enough quantity of a neutral coloured paint eg. Paynes Grey or Raw Sienna sufficient to cover a canvas.

Then sponge paint over the entire canvas giving a tinted ground that proves a much better surface to paint on.

You do not need to be too fussy about obtaining an even flat covered layer as streaks and blotches can enhance the finished work.