Ellen Cooper Class #2: Grisaille
After we practiced drawing envelopes Ellen had us next focus on the concept of a grisaille.
A grisiaille is a monochromatic underpainting. Grisaille, the next step in the painting process, shows the different values in a composition which will ultimately develop into a full colored painting. The simple definition of value is the light (white) and dark (black) shades of gray that make a painting. Grisailles don’t have to be painted exclusively with gray. For example the grisaille below is painted with varying light and dark shades of either Transparent Earth Red or Transparent Brown Oxide.
Grisaille stage; Mims Studios atelier, NC, student copy after Jacques-Louis David’ “Patroclus” – oil
on linen 48″ x 78″ – wikipedia
This was an interesting, albeit exhausting, second class. We drew so many envelopes, I am not sure I want to see another one again for a while!
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