A Hill in Zion

[Chris V++]

Hey This is 11x14 of Zion National Park in Utah. I attached the underpainting in yellow. It's Acrylic on Yupo. It is mostly done with a palette knife and a sea sponge.

 

[tall73]

Looks good. I have only used black and white underpaintings for the values. What is the advantage of one like this, the yellow shining through in various ways for lighting?

Are there disadvantages to this?

 

[Chris V++]

Looks good. I have only used black and white underpaintings for the values. What is the advantage of one like this, the yellow shining through in various ways for lighting?

Are there disadvantages to this?

Thanks. The yellow sets the temperature for the whole painting. It can also be done in umber. Salmon color (sort of a pink orange) believe it or not is very useful for underpainting sunlight. The only downside is that you have to remember to cool your shadow areas. The rule is warm light source means cool shadows, and cool light source means warm shadows. If the balance is wrong the painting can look muddy or chalky. On mine I probably should have put some blues in the rock wall shadows, at least in the recesses.

As a fun fact, Salvador Dali used to glaze yellow into his darkest shadows (it gives a airy atmosphere in the shadows that you can't get with just black.

 

[tall73]

Thanks. The yellow sets the temperature for the whole painting. It can also be done in umber. Salmon color (sort of a pink orange) believe it or not is very useful for underpainting sunlight. The only downside is that you have to remember to cool your shadow areas. The rule is warm light source means cool shadows, and cool light source means warm shadows. If the balance is wrong the painting can look muddy or chalky. On mine I probably should have put some blues in the rock wall shadows, at least in the recesses.

As a fun fact, Salvador Dali used to glaze yellow into his darkest shadows (it gives a airy atmosphere in the shadows that you can't get with just black.

Interesting, thanks!

That is something I like about digital. I can go back and put a new layer and glaze onto anything!