I often make use of a grisaille underpainting when producing my work. Grisaille, meaning grey, is a technique in which a painting begins with a monochromatic, traditionally greyscale, palette.

Transparent layers of colored glazes are then applied to modify the subsequent, opaque layers. The multiple colored layers are mixed optically as the light hits them to create luminosity and depth. While including contemporary colors on my pallet, I enjoy using this underpainting method and experimenting with it by substituting the traditional grey underpainting with a variety of colored grisailles.

I find the technical narratives in these classical layering processes to be alluring because they involve and symbolise a sense of care, patience, and thoughtfulness. Find more in each video below.