Watts Atelier Painting Methods

[k4pka]

Can anyone offer any insight as to the watts atelier approach to teaching oil painting? From what i have seen, pieces are not built up layer by layer, but done all in one sitting.

What are the approaches to this? Are the large masses blocked in roughly, and then further tones added to refine the forms? Or are the different values placed appropriately as the piece progresses?

Id love to hear about this method for teaching students to paint in oils...

Thanks in advance.

[MoP]

From what I saw Ron Lemen (one of the Watts instructors) doing at the SF workshop, he blocked in the main colours/tones using a very large brush, then painted over these with smaller brushes, mainly working dark to light, if I remember right.
Of course, this might not be the way they teach it. It's pretty much how I work in oils when I'm doing everything in one sitting, though, and it works for me!

MoP

[tinyhands]

Its an alla prima approach. Students try to finish a painting by the end of the class. Some classes are taught based on the Reilly method which is a little more time consuming, but for the most part, regular classes are wet into wet painting. Go read Richard Schmids book ALLA PRIMA, and that will pretty much cover it, granted thats an example. Students learn through doing, and watching, thats all.

-tiny

[seets_]

Can the techniques, etc. in richard schmids book be applied to digital painting?

[tinyhands]

Can the techniques, etc. in richard schmids book be applied to digital painting?

Yes, if you know how to paint. But if your learning, I would try the real deal first.

-tiny

[BlackMath]

If your gonna check out Robert Schmid you better check it out from your local library because his books are rare, out of print and expensive. 150-225 $$$$ :nohope: >:{

[Main Loop]

you can buy softcover alla prima for 50 bucks on his website