Before a single drop of red or blue touches the canvas, the Old Masters completed a monochromatic underpainting (usually in raw umber, ivory black, or lead white). They called this the grisaille .
Paint your grisaille darker than you think you need. A glaze of yellow ochre over a dark grey becomes antique gold. Over a light grey, it looks like cheap plastic. Secret #2: The Medium Myth (Why "Liquin" Isn't Always Right) If you search for a master's PDF, you will see endless recipes. The secret is not the recipe; it is the viscosity layering . oil painting secrets from a master pdf
The difference between a student painting and a "Master" painting is rarely skill. It is Before a single drop of red or blue