How to Tone a Canvas for Oil Painting | Cute Ghost Painting Prep 👻, by Jen Shannon on YouTube. 16 min 15 s.
- Video length
- 16 min 15 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes plus overnight dryi
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Squeeze small amounts of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, burnt umber and a touch of phthalo blue onto your palette. Keep the blue tiny so the mix stays warm.
Mix the colors together with your brush until you get an even warm brown. Add more ochre for a lighter tone or more umber for a deeper one.
Load a stiff flat brush and scrub the mixture into the canvas in thin, even strokes. Work in all directions to cover the surface.
Keep the layer thin. Scrape off excess paint or spread it out if the canvas looks wet and heavy.
Rough in a horizon line with burnt sienna, then darken the corners with the same color to frame the scene.
Switch to a soft brush and feather the edges of the darker areas into the lighter ground. Blend until the transitions look smooth.
For a cooler color story, mix a green undertone using phthalo blue with yellow ochre and a little burnt sienna.
Blend the bottom of the second canvas into the top so the green fades gradually. Let both canvases dry overnight before painting on them.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the toned layer thin, since thick paint slows drying and can stay tacky for days.
Use a fast drying medium or a little solvent to help the ground set overnight.
Test your color mix on a scrap of canvas before scrubbing it onto the whole surface.
Work in a ventilated room and keep solvent away from flames and children.
Questions
Do I have to let the toned canvas dry before painting?
Yes. Oil grounds need to set, so leave the canvas overnight or until it feels dry to the touch. Painting on wet ground will lift the color.
Can I tone a canvas with acrylic paint instead?
Yes. Acrylic dries fast and works well as a base under oils, as long as it is fully dry first. Many painters use acrylic for the ground and oil on top.
What is an imprimatura?
It is the traditional name for a toned ground, a thin layer of color applied to the canvas before painting. It helps set the mood and unifies the colors you add later.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
