Some parts of this website will not work with Internet Explorer.

Please use a different browser such as Chrome or Firefox.

Back to Original

Valley of Tranquility

ShadowscarsDragon 15 May 2021

I just found out what happens with poorly gessoed canvases - the liquid white gets absorbed and dries. I had many technical hiccups, so I don’t like it as much, but the sky is very stylish. Better thickly cover my next canvas!

Oils

Comments

Never would have guessed you had the hiccups while painting this. Sorry. Couldn't help myself. 😁

All kidding aside, it's a great scene. That little bit of an island in front of the waterfall is perfect.

I'm curious. How did the Liquid White get absorbed? Did you use two coats of gesso?

No, I bought some budget canvases from Royal and Langnickel, and I've had the same issue every time I used those as they are and didn't cover them in black gesso. I thought there was something wrong with my mixture of linseed oil and white paint, because the canvas was dry to the touch after 30 minutes, making blending impossible.

Now that I know I'll completely cover them in white gesso even if I am not using black gesso.

Felix Creator of TwoInchBrush.com

DId you use a special technique for the sky?

I basically did as Bob instructs, except my liquid white was way too thin due to being absorbed by the canvas. The blue didn't get paler much, and I added white with a hint of red as highlights.

Got it. The issue was with the canvases, not the gesso itself.

Anyway, you still pulled it off... really nice painting. I like the grass going up the mountain.

Sign in to leave a comment.


Not a member yet?
Join over 5800 other painters and share your paintings with the world!

Register now