Why Underpainting Sets the Tone for Your Entire Painting

Underpainting is like the secret blueprint of a great painting. It's one of the first steps I take when I start a new piece because it helps me map out values, shapes, and the overall mood before diving into the layers of colour. Whether you’re working on a pet portrait, a landscape, or something abstract, underpainting sets the tone for everything that follows.

Let’s dig into why underpainting is such an essential part of your process.

1. It Establishes the Value Structure Early

A solid underpainting helps you define the light and dark areas of your piece right from the beginning. This is crucial because the success of a painting often comes down to its values—how light or dark things are—rather than the colours you use. Underpainting allows you to focus on value first, ensuring your composition has strong contrast and depth.

Penny’s Tip:
I usually use a neutral tone like burnt sienna, raw umber, or even a soft blue for my underpainting. This helps me see the light and dark areas clearly before I start adding my colours.

2. It Gives Your Painting Depth and Dimension

Even though the underpainting will eventually be covered with layers of paint, it peeks through in subtle ways, adding depth and richness. The underpainting acts as a guide and support for the layers that follow, helping you create more dimensional and lifelike art.

How I Do It:
When painting fur, for example, my underpainting provides the base shadows that help the fur look more realistic and three-dimensional once I start layering lighter colours on top.

3. It Helps You Build from a Solid Foundation (Not a Blank Canvas)

Starting with a blank white canvas can feel too stark or sterile for many artists, including me. That’s why I always begin with a wash or ground and a value study before laying down the underpainting. This initial step sets the mood and gives me a visual map of where I’m headed, making the underpainting process smoother and more intuitive.

My approach:
I typically apply a wash of a neutral or complementary colour to tone the canvas and then complete a quick value study. This helps me establish light and shadow areas before building up the layers. By the time I start underpainting, I’m already working on a foundation that feels intentional and full of possibilities.

4. It Sets the Mood for the Entire Painting

Your underpainting can help establish the overall tone and mood of the piece. Whether it’s a warm underpainting to create a sunny, vibrant feel, or a cool one to set a more somber tone, those initial layers influence how the final painting feels.

My Approach:
I like to think of my underpainting as a mood-setter. If I want the painting to feel warm and inviting, I’ll start with warm tones. For cooler, more subdued moods, I’ll lean into cooler shades for the underpainting.

Final Thoughts

Underpainting is like the groundwork that supports your entire painting. By setting the values, mood, and composition early, you’ll give yourself a solid foundation to build on. Plus, it helps take away the fear of the blank canvas!

Until next time, Keep splashing colours!
Penny 😊🎨✨