STARTING THE GRISAILLE

Last Saturday we began the grisaille under-painting with a complete line drawing using vine charcoal on oil primed linen.  When you are satisfied with your drawing - which should be as complete as possible, with contours and shadow edges, you will "fix" your drawing with a lining brush and thinned oil paint.  I use a reddish, brown paint color because it is very easy to see.  When the fixed drawing is dry, wipe off the charcoal with a paper towel, chamois or kneaded eraser.  Now you have a beautiful "ghost" of a line drawing and you're ready to begin your monochromatic under-painting (grisaille).  Below is an example of a gray and brown grisaille by Andrea del Sarto and several of my vain attempts at a grisaille using black and white paint.  Also included is an example of a charcoal line drawing by Roger Lawrence, who is in the afternoon class. 

 

 Battesimo Della Gente, one of Andrea del Sarto's gray and brown grisaille frescoes in the Chiostro dello Scalzo, Florence (1511-26).

Morning class grisaille demo

Afternoon class grisaille demo

Roger Lawrence. Still Life Line Drawing