Old Masters' techniques
- gyslainenicolet
- 1 janv.
- 2 min de lecture
On the 1rst Part of thez Mastery Program, we are taught to the subtractive painting method.
This method has been employed by many artists throughout history .
Bistre, Grisaille, and Verdaccio techniques are few examples of this technique.
Bistre:
The Bistre method originated in the Renaissance and Baroque periods, is characterized by a monochromatic brown tone mainly used in drawings or watercolor paintings. Artists used a thin, transparent glaze of bistre, a brown pigment made from soot, over a light surface and removed pigment to create the highlights. This technique is ideal for creating atmosphere.
Rembrandt used bistre in his drawings, and his paintings.
Grisaille :
Mastering Light and Form with GrayscaleGrisaille, from the French word for “grey,” is another subtractive technique where an image is built up in greyscale tones.
This method often served as an underpainting for more colorful works or as a standalone piece. Grisaille was popular during the Renaissance and was commonly used for sculptural paintings or to mimic the appearance of stone reliefs.
Jan van Eyck, a pioneer of early oil painting, frequently used grisaille as part of his multi-layered painting technique.
This method creates profound depth and dimension.
Verdaccio:
The verdaccio method involves using green or olive tones as an underpainting, a technique widely employed by Renaissance artists for skin tones. Verdaccio helps artists manage the color transitions from shadows to mid-tones and highlights, particularly in portraiture. The green hue is gradually layered over and subtracted from, allowing for the lifelike depiction of flesh, with warm tones building upon the cool underlayer.
Leonardo da Vinci is known to have used verdaccio, especially in his portraits. The technique helped him achieve that naturalistic yet ethereal glow in the skin of his subjects. The masterpiece, the Mona Lisa is an amazing example of the
verdaccio underpainting.
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