Old Underpaintings

An underpainting is a preparatory phase of painting. My process involves at least three layers. I cover a gessoed canvas with a color, then I draw the shapes onto the color and paint the shapes in different colors from the finished idea. Then I put in the final colors, letting the underlying layers show through in places. I like the effect a lot. Letting the underlying color show through is called scumbling. 

Sometimes I prefer the underpainting to the finished work. These two are unknown quantities; I may like the finished work more, or maybe less. They are a few years old, and I had forgotten about them. I like them more than I remember. 

Bayou Walk

Yellowstone Pond