People often ask me how I start my paintings, so I decided to put together a collage showing some examples of my Underpainting in acrylics. Examples are better than descriptions for this topic. There is no plan. I simply respond to colours and tools that appeal on the day.

The ideas for the work may or may not be influenced by the colours I lay down. Often, they are completely hidden by subsequent layers. Marks that have some height (through thick paint) or depth (through tools that scratch away paint) do show in the final work. I can choose to sand-paper top layers, when the paint is dry, to show the colour beneath. This is how the red and orange show in my painting ‘Trunks’.

How Do You Begin Underpainting in Acrylics?

I’m interested to know how you start abstract paintings in acrylics. Drop a comment in the field below and let me know.

100 Days of Art

If you would like to read more in the 100 Days of Art series, click here.