Sandra asked recently: “Usually when I paint a sky, I do it evenly and across the painting, covering the whole surface and adding extra paint where I see necessary. How (following an underpainting) do I keep the smoothness of the sky but still keep some of the colour underneath?
Great question Sandra. When painting over an area that is already working – such as your sky – there are a couple of strategies. I must say that I probably don’t always use the same approach, and maybe that’s the fun of it. I begin by thinking: “Scumble” or “Glaze”. Although the specifics may be different, these techniques work in Oil, Acrylic and Watercolour:
- Scumble ( very dry brush) – I would use this technique if I wanted some painterly effects, with the canvas/weave showing off the new paint such as highlights or fog rolling in perhaps. https://www.tropicdrawing.com/5-benefits-of-scumbling-painting-technique/
- I would use Glazing (washing/tinting) if I wanted to change the general tone of an area and still see the underlying paint. I successfully turned one little painting from daylight to a nocturne this way…. https://goldstarwork.com/blogs/news/acrylic-painting-technique-glazing-with-acrylic-paint
As with most processes, it’s not all one or the other method and I would be sure to have my third tool, a rag, ready for some wiping out!
Break-a-Brush!
David