The indirect method of painting

My preferred method of painting for my landscapes is the indirect method which allows me to build up the painting in a number of layers from dark to light, while developing and adding more details as I progress. With experience I modified this approach in several ways. I usually start by blocking in the main shapes in blocks of color. This is done using paints diluted slightly with odourless mineral solvents such as Gamsol. I usually keep this layer of paint thick enough to cover the canvas but not too thick. During this stage I cover the whole canvas and also try to get my tonal values as much as possible right so that later on I will only need to fine tune them. This helps me a lot to get what I want because I will be able to compare one color and tone to the one next to it on the canvas itself rather then on the palette. When I am finished from this stage I will leave the painting to dry up at least overnight. 
 
When I start working on the second layer, I will start adding more form and detail to the various elements in the painting. At the same time I will be changing and modifying color and tone. Thicker paint will also be laid down on the previous layer. At this stage I will either use the paint directly from the tubes (if this flows good enough) or else I will add 25% linseed oil in Gamsol. 

I rarely go beyond the third layer. The third layer will only be applied to selected areas where I need to have more detail or highlighting. At this stage even the size of the brushes will get smaller. The oil paints will then be diluted with 50% linseed oil in Gamsol. 
 

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