underpaint

English

Etymology

From under- +‎ paint.

Verb

underpaint (third-person singular simple present underpaints, present participle underpainting, simple past and past participle underpainted)

1. To rough in the colors of a painted work of art, prior to painting the final version.
   • 1939, John Sloan, “Painting”, in Gist of Art, New York, N.Y.: American Artists Group, Inc., page 136:

     The underpainting should be neutral and preferably cool in color. Positive colors may be underpainted with shaded tints of the full color. This is especially true of blues and reds because the oil glazes darken or fade. Reds are best underpainted with vermillion or cadmium.

   • 1969, Bernard Malamud, Pictures of Fidelman: An Exhibition, New York, N.Y.: Dell Publishing Co., Inc., published 1970, page 84:

     Fidelman underpaints the canvas and after it is dry begins the figure of Venus as the conspirators look on sucking their breaths.

   • 2006, Rachel Rubin Wolf, Splash 9: Watercolor Secrets, Cincinnati, Oh.: North Light Books, F+W Publications, Inc., →ISBN, page 111:

     In spite of the dramatically different light in these paintings, I underpainted all of them with the same color, Quinacridone Gold. In High Point, I underpainted the entire painting to give it that warm glow. In the others, I underpainted the foreground with two light washes and the middle ground with one light wash.

Related terms

• underpainting