What better way to start the new year than with an alla prima class!

Alla prima means “at the first” or “all at once.” The idea is to get the image down at the first try. Some definitions cite “wet on wet” but this is difficult with gouache as it dries quickly.

This is quite a challenge. It requires drawing, value rendering, and color mixing all at once with not a lot of adjustments! Because my usual method involves lots of studies, I challenged myself to make a painting in only three steps.

Tone the paper.

Make a drawing

Make a painting.

This little painting took about an hour.