GRISAILLE - Oil Painting Tutorial with Step by Step Demonstration

Hello everyone and welcome for this new tutorial, in this video, we’re going to talk about a great technique for both beginners and advanced painters, I’m talking about the monochromatic underpainting, also know as dead color painting or grisaille.
The word grisaille comes from the french gris, meaning that it’s a grey painting. Throughout the history of art, the grisaille has mostly been used as an underpainting, usually followed by a layers of full color and glazes. Traditionally, the grisaille was also widely used as an educational technique for students. However, the grisaille itself can have an interesting look, like black and white photography and you can find a few examples of paintings meant to be finished grisailles, not very common but it exists.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:55 Drawing with paint
05:01 Why use a grisaille
09:41 Focus on values
12:14 Volume and blending
14:11 After the grisaille
Music : Amor Fati by Vetle Lyckander
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About me (bio) :
Website :
www.florentfarges.com
I am an artist living and working in France. I learned the techniques of the Atelier of the Nineteenth century and now I try to share some of my knowledge with the rest of the world, because I think that beauty still has an important role to play in artistic creation. I do mostly drawing and oil painting, and my goal is always to provide techniques, thoughts and explanations that can be useful to anyone, from beginners to more advanced artists.
The material I use most of the time (not necessarily in this video) :
Drawing
Equipement
✓ Kneaded eraser
✓ Plumb line
✓ Small mirror
✓ An old synthetic brush
✓ Masking tape
✓ Cutter
✓ Sandpaper or sanding block
✓ Mahlstick or Hand rest (DIY)
✓ Level ruler
Graphite
✓ Pencils 2H, HB and 2B
Charcoal
✓ If available: Nitram charcoals (H, HB and B)
✓ Square charcoals
✓ Natural charcoal box
Black and white chalk
✓ Sketch pencil Conté white
✓ Square Conté noir : HB and 2B
✓ Chalk or pencil holder
✓ Pencil sketch Conté Pierre noire : H and HB
Sanguine
✓ Sketch pencil Conté : Blood and blood Medici
✓ Crayon Polychromos Faber-Castel : sanguine
✓ Sketch pencil Conté white
Oil painting
Palette
(Extra-fine paint, recommended brands depending on availability: Lefranc Bourgeois, Winsor and Newton, Royal Talens Rembrandt)
✓ Titanium white PW6
✓ Yellow ochre PY42
✓ Burnt Sienna PR101 or PBr7
✓ Venetian red or English red PR101
✓ Permanent Alizarin crimson (Attention: do not use the traditional pigment, which is not very light-fast) PV19 or PR177 or Quinacridone Rose PV19
✓ Cobalt teal blue PG50
✓ French ultramarine blue PB29
✓ Raw umber PBr7
✓ Burnt umber PBr7
✓ Ivory Black PBk9
Brushes
✓ About ten filbert hog bristle brushes sizes n° 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12
✓ Some flat brushes
✓ Round sable brush or round Kolinsky sable n° 4, 8, 10, 12 (from the size of the nail (about one inch) or synthetic imitation
Medium
✓ Linseed stand oil
✓ Odourless mineral spirits
✓ Safflower oil
Surface
✓ Linen canvas, fine grain universal coating
✓ For studies : Canson oil-acrylic oil paper Figueras
Others
✓ Palette
✓ Foam and spalter brushes
✓ Palette knife in the shape of a water drop, no souldering
✓ A few small pots, containers, jars...
✓ Paper towels
***
#art #painting #inspiration
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Thanks for watching !

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Hey everyone ! Thanks for watching. If you want to see part 2 with the colors, let me know in the comments section and I'll make sure to record the next phase.

[@monagionet7387]

Yes please! I would love to see how you glaze it

[@MindBodyMuse]

Yes, plz 🙏

[@michaelbarton5169]

I look forward to Part 2!

[@meinfs]

Yes please!

[@michaelbridges8261]

Yes please! Amazing work!

[@user-sp8in3dd7j]

Yee!!part 2 pls!!! ......and thanks for part 1🥺✨

[@philbrink1054]

Florent: You managed to capture in 17 minutes everything I have learned over the last 2 years of painting and learning about grisailles. Every detail was in there like you have been watching over my shoulder. Watching it, I would think about some obscure fact about the process (like the bluish tint of Ivory Black) only to hear it confirmed a few seconds later. I honestly hope everyone watches this video multiple times because the smallest details are covered and put into such a wonderful explanation. I can't wait for part 2 as grisailles can form the base for so many different painting methods and you cover the material so well.

[@r.thomassen6285]

The portrait you painted is breathtaking! I really like it.

[@andreasmith2673]

To see the transition to color would be wonderful! Yes, please!

[@lefthandstory1280]

Beautiful,nice sharing friend😃✌️..

[@fayee8986]

Yes I would like to see part 2 thank you

[@seahawk100]

Great! Yes, Part 2, Please. 👍

[@2gooddrifters]

Your paintings are beautiful at every stage.

[@merjauotila1162]

Love to watch part 2.!!!!!

[@Icybella]

I'd love to see a part 2!! Love your videos!

[@gepetodelamorte8149]

Tes tutos sont top florent, une des meilleures chaines YT dédiée a la peinture; je m'y remets salement. Par contre la petite musique de piano omniprésente dans tes vidéos ce n'est pas obligé, ca empêche d'écouter soit même de la musique et tes propos sont suffisamment intéressants pour t'en passer.

[@vanessacourt265]

Yes definitely want to see part two with the colours please

[@jpearceart]

Definitely want to see part 2. Thanks for the informative video.

[@tshobe7833]

Thank you for the instructional demo Florent, I enjoyed it as I do all of your free videos and online paid-courses! Yes, please share part 2.... and 3, 4, 5, 6 and how ever many more you care to offer!

[@x13roger80]

Can't wait for the next one

[@pamperkins7256]

Yes, please another video!

[@prism9884]

Yes, please do a part 2 with color! Your lessons and KZbin videos have been the main reason I was able to do my first self-portrait in oil. I usually work with graphite. But now playing with the oil paint, it’s my new favorite medium! Mostly just wanted to say thanks for sharing your knowledge and talent👌🏼

[@anitadavis5430]

I love the fine points that you discuss, the things that go through your head that us less experienced paints don't know about yet. What you are watching for, what you are avoiding. Etc. For example, the idea that you leave the eye details till the very latest you can. Eyes are driving me nuts right now, so I need to try this!! Thanks again. Yes I want to see the glazing part. Definitely.

[@28arnd]

Le meilleur peintre actuel…

[@lindalmiller429]

Great! Would love to see the colors!

[@susannerauch8237]

I would love to see part 2. I hope you will be able to include a mention regarding whether or not an alkyd, like Liquin, can be used during the grisaille phase. Thank you for your wonderful videos!

[@vmangani]

Thank you for explaining the reason for a grisaille. I get it now. Once the grisaille is done, I realized that half of the painting is completed. It just needed more colors.

[@dianepenney6483]

Yes! Would love to see your part 2 with colours. You are an amazing teacher!

[@marcobucceri8530]

Thank you for this Florent, I really enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to seeing you complete the painting in colour.

[@fatemaalbalooshi1980]

Excellent delivery of knowledge 👍

[@pw4606]

Part 2 with the colours please!

[@PaulRansonArt]

Thank you Florent for another excelent video. Always informative and beautifully filmed too. I hope one day to be able to make videos as beautiful as yours.🤓🖌

[@wt6839]

Love your work, looking forward for the second part! Thanks!

[@christieraper5472]

Yes would love to see part 2 with the colors!

[@sandradavis7522]

Yes, would love to see Part 2 with the addition of colour. Lovely demonstration and teaching about Grisaille.

[@nicolebedard5325]

Merci Florent pour cette démo. J’aime beaucoup votre travail et j’aimerais grandement voir la suite pour la mise en couleur! Vivement la partie 2!

[@nikkiswenson54]

Excellent information, Florent! I want to do another Grisaille now! It will be fun to see part two! Thank you!

[@henriquejanuario881]

Thanks for this class! Waiting for the part 2!

[@40bdg]

This was great. I would definitely love to see part two with the color!!!

[@bekssoon2887]

I've been watching your videos since I started painting. They helped me more than my art school. Thank you! ;)

[@l.baughman1445]

Thank you!!!! ❤️👍 also, thanks to the artists 👩🏻‍🎨 who also comment and share their own experiences because it helps ME in my journey too.

[@jeffreyball6298]

Great tutorial, you've helped me transition from charcoal, to wash to oil painting with the grasaille technique. Thank you!

[@Digital101community]

Merci Florent Farges, j'ai pris ton guide sur la peinture et je pense que c'est peut être le meilleur achat que j'ai pu faire. Tellement de connaissances partagé, encore merci ;)

[@sarajillianshepherd3858]

Wonderful Florent . Funnily enough I'm doing a Gasille rose in acrylic paint. It is rather large at 4ft square.

[@housetalkwithdiana]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge! This video was so helpful! ❤️👍

[@ladygwarth]

Thank you , great tutorial as always 😊

[@Rachaelshaw7]

Thank you 💕 Part 2 please. Please consider making a version of part 2 where you add glaze and a second part 2 adding paint. Thank you 😊

[@panamafred1]

Geez, this is good!

[@mohrkatja8923]

Thank you for sharing your art..inspiring me sooo much 🦈👍

[@SusanIsaacArt]

I've learned a lot I've been practicing Grasille more than one year now but you added more information because I only used burnt umber and titanium white now I will try to use your way and your colors. I would love to see the color layer also ❤❤

[@craftywoman6399]

I finally realized this is the step I needed after thirty years. Yes I’m a slow learner 😂

[@goingintoalltheworld]

Thanks a lot for a great video, Florent. Please make a part 2.

[@dougg1075]

Super cool man!

[@shahzadqurashi7728]

Awesome

[@jyotibratatalapatra]

Amazing Sir

[@pierrerouge8620]

Nicly done!

[@StudioYulianto]

Tutorial yang. Menarik. Terima kasih

[@punjabpainting2002]

You are so much talented art work dear friend..stay connected always

[@sandrabiddlecombe6233]

Thank you, I'd love to see how you add colour. Part 2 please x

[@TomatoBreadOrgasm]

Every single video I have seen on grisaille skips over the steps after the underpainting (or, at best, glosses over them). I don't get it. Why do you all seem to think the hard part is painting in grayscale?

[@suzannebonham583]

I'm torn. I want to see part 2 with the colors, yet I think this painting is perfect as it is!

[@pablobosques9438]

Thank you, I'd love to see how you add color. Part 2 please

[@Marcblur]

I have a lot of difficulty using oil for a fine drawing medium. For those who like to do a detailed drawing for the underpainting, a neutral grey watercolor pencil works very well for laying out your basic lines and even details. Since it's water-based, turpentine or mineral spirits will not disturb or dissolve line like they would in the wax binder of a regular colored pencil. If you make a mistake, you can wipe it off with a damp cloth, let the water dry and start over with no harm to the gessoed canvas. Also, if you are working from a color photo or even a model or still life, get a piece of red glass to look trough at your grisaille and subject. A small red photo filter works well. The red negates colors in your source material and you can compare your value drawing/underpainting to your subject much more easily. If, when holding the red filter to your eye, the light dark values in your grisaille match your subject, you're on the right track.

[@shuvoDhar.5537]

Very nice👍👍👍

[@noanevo3101]

Thank you very much Florent for this tutorial video! For me, since I'm really bad at oil painting and have plans to practice it on the future, this grisaille technique looks like a very useful and essential one to begin with. I hope that you'll share and upload the second part of the process focusing on applying the full range colors. By the way, I have a question: I'm not sure if you've posted already a video discussing models and references for portraits and still paintings&drawings. If you've already posted a video on it, I would like to know, but if not, would you share some tips regarding this subject? Thank you as always for sharing your knowledge and thoughts! I'm very inspired and encouraged by you to keep up with art, as I've decided to dedicate myself to it, just as many other viewers do feel and think.

[@bllawlk]

Would love to see part 2.

[@shaunebartoo]

Would love to see it glazed! Thank you!

[@alvinmoore6534]

I want to see your color approach. I have beem employing the grisaille consept and I would like to see how you layer color over the form. Thanks.

[@ScottHebert604]

yes part 2

[@lilyunderthesun]

thank you for sharing it was so useful for me. could you make second part of this video pls,thanks again

[@nunuallen4327]

I love this, painting this way seems easier than figuring out what colors to use. I am so stuck on color that I am scared to paint, knowing that I can only learn if I do.I do more drawing than painting because of I get frustrated with not getting the colors right.

[@WolfgangYoga]

Merci! As tu deja fait part 2? Thanks for letting me know and thanks for this beautiful grisaille video

[@uncleatelier8495]

your drawing skills are amazing. ~~^^😊😊😊Please play it often in my room, too. ~~^^🧡🧡🧡🧡

[@shaimaasayed1219]

I love your contact 😽💖

[@lindalangeheine5787]

Thank you for the informative video! You use glass for the palette? Where can it be purchased? Or do you just take a piece of glass from an old picture frame?

[@kznsq77]

Thanks for the great videos! If is very convenient, but this technique produces a dead-looking portraits, or it needs to apply a lot of color layers. These black shadows and grey face will absorb a lot of light and the painting will be dark and dull overall. I decided to not using such method.

[@GM-rl3sm]

HI this was very helpful to revisit again and understand what the purpose was. So yes for part 2 and also can you tell me the name of the pallet box easel you are using. Love that the paint is next to the canvas not down below. thanks

[@ElizabethBattle]

Part 2 please!

[@robinredbeard]

Yes, please, show us the addition or color. Thank you.

[@Iwanttodrawachicken]

Can this be done without solvents (or acrylics)?

[@lenais]

Hi,how to mix the media and in what ratio (linseed oil: tempertin: damar varnish) for oil painting ? That medium into which painters dip a brush and then into paint to paint and mix colors.

[@jean-paulvaneck5309]

Soo, it is possible to create the grissaile without solvent? At least if you use a fat medium in the glazes and a thin later of paint in the grissaile? I would be happy to hear so, sometimes my grisailles (with mostly OMS and a little medium) get a bit transparant. I would love to see the effect of glaces on a opague grissaille 😊

[@frednitchie7499]

Would to see pt 2

[@einarjungmann273]

Is it possible do Alla Prima as the Grasaille? Do B&W values in one session?

[@charmcrumrine8750]

I would like to see the color added. Thank you.

[@xDruchii]

I have a question; when you use this technique, or underpaintings in general I suppose, how do you avoid the paint cracking? I’m sorry if this was covered, but I’m still very new to oil painting. Also, 
I really appreciate these videos, they're very helpful. And I would like to see part 2 please.

[@bllawlk]

Always fat over lean to prevent the cracking

[@ZemfirArt]

Hello. Can I use acrylic paint for grisaille?

[@juliasugarbaker9032]

It’s been 4 months and I’m sure you have your answer, but for everyone else, yes you can! Just make sure it’s bone dry before painting with oils on top.

[@urmum1691]

Do you thin the grisaille layer with an orderless mineral spirit?

[@tumblingrosesstudio]

He does

[@donnabaek5788]

at minute 2:38 you apply white to the face. is this a conte crayon or a white oil stick? i wish you hadn't omitted this in your explanation. otherwise i love your videos

[@lindahutchings8353]

I want to watch you add oil-paint colors to your under painting.

[@sylmanpe2661]

Merci beaucoup... dommage que ce n'est pas en français ou tout du moins traduit. Amicalement

[@4reg4]

Linus Art Tips

[@Rebetis17]

Ça aurait été sympa de traduire la vidéo en français !

[@karenneville9569]

This is my first time watching you paint. I’m very intrigued by your talent and method and would like to see more of your instruction. However, the way your camera is situated… a lot of your demonstration of brushwork is blocked by the back of your head. I’m wondering why you don’t watch your own video before you post it so this problem could be corrected? I might try to watch other videos to see if they are any better..technical wise. Your talent is very apparent..sorry, but not your photography ability though.

[@fayee8986]

Can't see what you're doing for the back of your head. Sorry