
When trying the alla prima technique during drawing classes, be sure to avoid using excessive medium, be careful with paint thinness, avoid pure black colour, avoid working in one area at a time, and avoid focusing on details.
In this blog, VR School of Art, a leading art school in Toronto offering oil painting classes, explores these 5 alla prima mistakes in detail.
When using mediums such as oil paints, make sure to not use too much of it when practicing alla prima. This is especially true in the early layers, as too much medium can make the painting too thin or thick.
While applying a thin first layer is a great idea with alla prima, donot use solvents to make the medium thin. Instead, focus on applying a thin first layer by taking less material.
Black is not a good choice for alla prima painting, as it can make the work look too dull. If you desire darker shades, try to mix different colours to achieve this.
The concept of alla prima is to make a general and visually striking painting in a single session. Therefore, focusing too much on one area can ruin this idea as it can become overworked.
Details are not a big part of alla prima style of artwork. Think broad and flowing strokes for this style, so avoid focusing too much on the details. This can hinder the overall aesthetic of the painting.
Want to learn more about drawing classes? Contact us at VR School of Art today. As one of the leading art schools in Toronto that offers oil painting classes and other forms of drawing classes, we also offer landscape painting, portraiture and much more. Call us at 647-894-7706 for more details.
Alla prima technique is mainly used in plein air drawing classes.
Alla prima and wet-on-wet painting are alternative names of the same technique.