The 4 Underpainting Colors That Transform Your Portrait Paintings | S5L4

Choosing the right underpainting color changes everything. In this lesson, you'll explore the 4 most powerful underpainting styles used by classical and modern portrait painters — and how they affect the final look of your art.

We'll walk through the difference between local color and monochromatic approaches like grisaille, verdaccio, brunaille, and bistre — so you can stop guessing and start painting with purpose. You'll learn how each technique influences color harmony, depth, and realism in your finished portraits — and how to choose the right one based on your personal style.

By the end, you’ll know how to make strategic decisions about your underpainting that will elevate your entire painting process — no matter your skill level.

🎨 Materials Mentioned in this Lesson (Full Materials List Below):
🎨 Acrylic paints (black, white, umber, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
🎨 Brushes for blocking and blending
🎨 Pre-toned or gessoed painting surface

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⏱️ Chapters List:
00:00 – Why underpaintings matter
00:44 – How color choices set your style
01:27 – Local color vs grisaille
03:03 – When to use each approach
03:39 – Exploring brunaille and verdaccio
05:09 – The power of bistre and ochres
06:15 – Pushing boundaries with color

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🖌️ Full Materials Lists (Amazon):
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