GLAZES
A
glaze
is
simply a thin, transparent layer of paint and glazing is simply
building up color by applying thin, transparent layers one of top of
another, dry layer. Each glaze tints or modifies those beneath it. So
why is glazing something that can trouble, and even threaten, artists
so much? Well, while the theory may be simple, putting it into
practice takes patience and persistence to master.
If
you’re a painter who needs instant gratification, glazing is
probably not for you, but if you are a painter wanting to take your paintings up a notch, glazing will give you colors with a luminosity, richness and depth you cannot get by mixing colors on a palette.
Why is this? In very
basic terms, it’s because light travels through all the transparent
layers (glazes), bounces off the canvas, and reflects back at you. Your
eyes mix the layers of color to ‘see’ the final color, giving a
luminosity you don’t get with a
physically mixed color.
Painting
Glazes Tip No. 1: Get to Know Your Transparent Colors
Take
the time to learn which pigments are transparent, semi-transparent,
or opaque. Some manufacturers state this on their paint tubes
Transparent
colors work best for building up rich, subtle colors through layers
of glazes, but this is not to say you shouldn’t experiment with
opaque colors. But if you’re just starting to investigate glazing,
stick to transparent colors for your glazes and keep opaque colors
for the lower layers that will be glazed over.
Painting
Glazes Tip No. 2: Be Extremely Patient
If
you apply a glaze onto paint that isn’t totally dry, the layers of
paint will mix together, which is just what you don't want to happen.
Be patient rather than sorry. If you’re working in acrylics, you
can speed up things up by using a hair drier to dry a glaze. The
paint must be dry to the touch, not sticky.
Work
on several paintings at once so you can move from one to another
while you wait for a glaze to dry.
Painting
Glazes Tip No. 3: Glazes Like Smooth Surfaces
A
glaze is a thin layer of paint which should lie smoothly on top of
the previous layers. You don’t want it to collect or puddle on any
roughness on your support
or rather not when you first start glazing. (It’s something to
experiment with once you’ve mastered the basics of glazing.) A
smooth hardboard panel or fine-weave canvas is ideal to start with.
Painting
Glazes Tip No. 4: Use a Light Ground
Use
a light-colored or white
ground,
which helps reflect light, rather than a dark one, which helps absorb
light. If you’re not convinced, do a test by painting exactly the
same glazes on a white ground and a black or dark brown one.
Painting
Glazes Tip No. 5: Glazing Mediums
Glazing
mediums thin
the paint you’re using to the right consistency for glazing and, if
you buy a fast-drying formula, speed up the rate at which the paint
dries. They also solve any possible adhesion problems arising from
diluting the paint too much, particularly with acrylics
Experiment
with the ratio of medium to paint to get a feel for how much to add;
too much and you sometimes get a glassy, excessively glossy effect.
Painting
Glazes Tip No. 6: Use a Soft Brush
Glazes
want to be painted smoothly, without visible brush marks. Use a soft
brush with rounded edges, such as a filbert
brush. You
can glaze with a stiff, hog-hair brush, but it’s not ideal if
you’re new to glazing. Flicking over the top of the paint with a
dry fan or hake brush is useful way to eliminate visible brush marks.
Painting
Glazes Tip No. 7: Unify a Painting With a Final Glaze
When
the painting is finished, apply one final glaze over the whole
painting. This helps unify all the parts of the painting. An
alternative is to apply a final unifying glaze to just the elements
in the focal point.
When
it comes to thinning
acrylics,
the only 'rule' is to not mix acrylic
paintt with
more than 50 per cent water. Any more than this and it may loose its
adhesive qualities and peel off at some stage, or lift when you paint
over it.
