As difficult as it is to get painters to apply enough paint, it’s even harder to get them to take it back off again, unless they’re trying to rub out a mistake. The “Lift Up” or “Wipe Out” method is not for obliterating mistakes, it’s a fast way to shape light and dark values on the canvas. The brush loaded with dark paint makes dark shapes, the “Lift” makes light shapes. See?
The technique is simple: Once the canvas has been covered with a solid layer of dark or medium-dark paint, a lintless cloth or brush can be used to bring back the white of the canvas. The cloth or brush can be dry, or it can be dipped in a bit of odorless mineral spirits (for oil paint) or water (for acrylic paint). This method of painting is similar to watercolor in that the white surface supplies the primary light source, and produces a fresh and glowing effect. The wipe up technique is easy in oils, but it can also be used with acrylics if you’re quick.
Experiment 1: The Wipe Up method is great for underpaintings if you’re starting with thin paint (like the video below), or “alla prima” – painted in one sitting – if you’re starting with thick paint (like mine above).
Experiment 2: This technique has a very different look on white gessoed panel vs white gessoed canvas. Try both surfaces, and see what you like better.
Pictured at the top of this post:
My 15 minute demo; a fast study of a self portrait by Eugene Carrier, a Wipe Out champion. For this demo, I used a blue shop towel and then a little titanium white for highlights and solidity.
Video Below:
A demo from Georgetown Atelier, in Seattle. www.georgetownatelier.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I67UYK5y6s This has nothing to do with anything.
[image_with_animation image_url=”7165″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Quilled brain by Sarah Yakawonis With some activities, I get a voice telling me it’s a waste of time. Usually this voice comes up loudly in the first 5 minutes of making art. Somehow, it doesn’t come up much when I watch tv. Unlike watching tv, I feel better when I …
This is our last post in our list of Faves from the 30 Day Challenge. We received hundreds of creations throughout the month. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED! The next 30SAL post will include prizes and awards for our tip pics, and special recognition for the artists who completed all 30. Below are some …
Frohsin is another painter on the list of Carlos San Millan’s favorites. He had talked about wanting to develop his work into more flat color fields, a move towards the abstract. These paintings by Frohsin and others are his inspirations. I liked these abstracted figures so much I did some research and found more of …
The “Wipe Out” Method
As difficult as it is to get painters to apply enough paint, it’s even harder to get them to take it back off again, unless they’re trying to rub out a mistake. The “Lift Up” or “Wipe Out” method is not for obliterating mistakes, it’s a fast way to shape light and dark values on the canvas. The brush loaded with dark paint makes dark shapes, the “Lift” makes light shapes. See?
The technique is simple: Once the canvas has been covered with a solid layer of dark or medium-dark paint, a lintless cloth or brush can be used to bring back the white of the canvas. The cloth or brush can be dry, or it can be dipped in a bit of odorless mineral spirits (for oil paint) or water (for acrylic paint). This method of painting is similar to watercolor in that the white surface supplies the primary light source, and produces a fresh and glowing effect. The wipe up technique is easy in oils, but it can also be used with acrylics if you’re quick.
Experiment 1: The Wipe Up method is great for underpaintings if you’re starting with thin paint (like the video below), or “alla prima” – painted in one sitting – if you’re starting with thick paint (like mine above).
Experiment 2: This technique has a very different look on white gessoed panel vs white gessoed canvas. Try both surfaces, and see what you like better.
Suggested Product:
Blue Shop Towels (from any hardware store)
My 15 minute demo; a fast study of a self portrait by Eugene Carrier, a Wipe Out champion. For this demo, I used a blue shop towel and then a little titanium white for highlights and solidity.
Video Below:
A demo from Georgetown Atelier, in Seattle. www.georgetownatelier.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I67UYK5y6s This has nothing to do with anything.
Related Posts
The secret to happiness
[image_with_animation image_url=”7165″ alignment=”” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Quilled brain by Sarah Yakawonis With some activities, I get a voice telling me it’s a waste of time. Usually this voice comes up loudly in the first 5 minutes of making art. Somehow, it doesn’t come up much when I watch tv. Unlike watching tv, I feel better when I …
30SAL Faves: Week 4, Part 2
This is our last post in our list of Faves from the 30 Day Challenge. We received hundreds of creations throughout the month. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED! The next 30SAL post will include prizes and awards for our tip pics, and special recognition for the artists who completed all 30. Below are some …
Call for Print Art!
Kim Frohsin
Frohsin is another painter on the list of Carlos San Millan’s favorites. He had talked about wanting to develop his work into more flat color fields, a move towards the abstract. These paintings by Frohsin and others are his inspirations. I liked these abstracted figures so much I did some research and found more of …