The artist, selling old stuff to Tatar (Artist's Studio)

surface prep

The canvas should be prepared with a ground suitable for oil painting. While specific priming recipes for Makovsky are not detailed in the sources, traditional oil painting techniques assume a stable surface. The artist must ensure the ground is dry before beginning to prevent cracking, adhering to the principle that the quality of the oil and ground leads to a stable paint film (Source 1).

underdrawing

Begin by sketching the subject onto the canvas using charcoal or thinned paint, as is traditional in oil painting techniques (Source 1). This initial drawing establishes the composition and figures. Given the genre nature of the work, the drawing should focus on the arrangement of ordinary people in a quotidian scene (Source 6).

underpainting

Apply an initial layer of paint using a lean mixture (more solvent than oil) to establish values and forms. This adheres to the 'fat over lean' rule, ensuring that subsequent layers contain more oil to allow proper drying and prevent cracking (Source 1). This layer may be monochromatic or limited in color to establish the structural foundation.

Fat over Lean

A basic rule where each additional layer of paint contains more oil than the layer below to prevent cracking and peeling.

Glazing and Scumbling

Glazing involves transparent coats of color, while scumbling is semi-opaque painting that allows the underlying layer to show through. These techniques adjust translucency and tone.

Material Vitality

Using the specific qualities of oil paint (translucency, sheen, body) to express feeling rather than just mimic nature.