Medieval Castle, Ketshin, Poland

surface prep

Prepare a standard oil-primed canvas. While specific preparation for Malayan is not detailed, traditional oil painting requires a stable ground. Ensure the surface is dry and ready to receive the initial sketch. The 'fat over lean' rule dictates that the first layers must be lean (more solvent, less oil) to prevent cracking in later, oil-rich layers (Source 2).

underdrawing

Begin by sketching the subject onto the canvas using charcoal or thinned paint (Source 2). Given the cityscape genre, focus on establishing the structural lines of the castle and surrounding elements. Ensure the composition has a clear center of interest and avoids exact bisections of the picture space (Source 3). The underdrawing should be loose enough to allow for expressive adjustments, consistent with Expressionist practices, but precise enough to guide the grisaille stage.

underpainting

Create a monochrome underpainting (grisaille) using black, ultramarine, and white mixed with a lean medium (such as oil of copavia or linseed oil with solvent) (Source 1). This stage involves mentally extracting red and yellow colors to establish the value structure of the painting (Source 1). This technique allows the artist to focus on form and light without the distraction of color, a method advocated by Sir Joshua Reynolds and other old masters (Source 1).

Glazing

Applying transparent coats of color over a dry underpainting to build depth and luminosity, as practiced by old masters (Source 1).

Scumbling

Using semi-opaque paint to modify tones and textures, allowing the underpainting to influence the final appearance (Source 1).

Fat over Lean

Ensuring each successive layer of paint has a higher oil content than the previous layer to prevent cracking (Source 2).