I have often painted oil and acrylics on black gesso grounds. Particularly on small pieces I enjoy working out from "the darkness". Almost feels like sculpting.
Was about to order more black gesso when Opus Framing and Art Supplies (Vancouver) put Liquatex Burnt Umber Gesso on a greatly reduced price. So I thought I would give it a try and would use it on enough starts to really get the feel for it. All are acrylics, mostly 11x14 on linen or cotton canvas.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhIgO55ZzFj8X15RIPaYdArgPPhDFFOaLN_ibfnCIUs7ljzRgjq60M-C92KI1gPdrcsf1k5WKe52qGjRS2776sj2SVLHsYJTb9B0aIHcIOgSWg9MPTzxKh_TKXBh8dNr7XcvFj0EPfx8/s1600/DSC06831.JPG) |
Burnt Umber ground - drawing with acrylic markers |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUxpti-bslFRyFfTJHoLhaf6wIdOgiAV_OBvgGJk_aQnnpIzx4KeUdRWC92JZtiDM5g9t0-7dqouGrP8BJQLUf2wbkr0UNHn8U7RuxoubjK6tseuCg6ppBGnXQxFTvDWqfa_7e-yCavE/s1600/DSC06833.JPG) |
Filling large value shapes |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmATBfDwLOgbBfNYECmp_C3dQjmkvAYSwAOkLzhav1EEjCc4XzYx-N77kJrAgh6IEcDcR09p1nKq0ZKqsljSpRYPdHAvGB4gMPhA5BE2cnZL2RDwm6HtvRMyoHGz-41SQb2Fz0DvgWCsU/s1600/DSC06837.JPG) |
Carving negative spaces |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIde6fMKfBZp2ygccCeAbjHC-grlsk_Ff8AAdRwIVZWKlRA7ZksWkX893CJFq-USv0_G4B7lkPuES3y_1qkiyR4DILolyblakTapFG3HG_exwDTInvdt2IhtRSX-0nzwtxO23-fDZZVD8/s1600/Crystal+Cove+Shadows+Acrylic+24x24+2015.jpg) |
Almost finished 24x24 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WcRTYW9PxDhLGNz31HhXkZ7iFQN6rvlBTfcmj0GUxlixeEFABL2UH-zR9O5Yw8QXCLHNEcpkjz3Iqfa9cOvkWiF2RQRuagSkiV4e6kj8sl3opLLZY5O82vUhdaqxIrFhZfrql3JuGsY/s1600/DSC00717.ARW) |
Sketch and early shapes |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVW5lab-S4eR93t9UyhA6vyK7zi6-ps3DvOoMNvbKBu6MhpXn8fjuASv4VInqEWFqYx9Xs1UjM088vcXMYDu0IuAVQwxb8yXsLBH5Zs1y-mxD5JjvJYyFQg1jyZ8sPuVJ2dDIHkKuC1o/s1600/Airport+Walk++Acrylic+11x14+2015.jpg) |
Almost finished 11x14 - details needed on figures |
I really liked working on the warmer dark ground - as compared to the black. Each piece has a greater or lesser amount showing through and the warmth of the umber seems preferable to the cool black.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFrjkX4c8YXCRH8B6EfoHD0F4VsKIirwLvhM-KJbC5_Z2dUK3sfjXF_mvY4-jFv-w4IvLVh8ihEEqFfmJBLM9IwPF5B65lb96OSeZHqjpx7vYWtuaOXbQdq4MDK9CxhPzKOPA52xZsLM/s1600/one.jpg) |
Enough small starts of different colour themes to feel comfortable working on this warm dark ground |
So now I want to try working with it on larger pieces.