Oil Painting Techniques, El Greco

How did El Greco create such marvelous effects in his paintings? During the late Renaissance, El Greco influenced a new generation of artists by using innovative ways to apply oil paint to a traditional gesso ground over canvas support. His style was later revered and admired by many artists from the 19th century which led to the rise of Impressionism. In this course, I guide the student through a reconstruction of el Greco’s painting technique using the same materials and pigments that the artist had available during his lifetime. Students will start by learning how to prepare a suitable painting ground using traditional “Gesso Sottile“, and the proper application over a Linen canvas. We will discuss El Greco’s complex build-up of layers known today as indirect painting. This system of layers usually began with a monochromatic stage and the subsequent application of various applications of semi-opaque, transparent, and or dragged layers of colors to create a rich sense of atmosphere and depth in the finished painting.

Students can expect to learn the following skills in this course.

• How to prepare a traditional Gesso ground for canvas support using a historical recipe.

• How to draw directly on the canvas support using the brush.

• Monochromatic modeling using two or three colors.

• The use of warm and cool color transitions to create the illusion of form.

• How to glaze using underpainting and transparent colors.

• How to use the Scumbling technique to depict form.

• Subtle modeling of form and flesh tints.

Generations of students throughout the history of art have been trained by copying masterworks as a way to unravel the secret methods of great artists. This course is useful for students interested in learning the basics, and for more advanced students interested in improving and mastering the techniques of oil painting.

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