The Beauty of the Underpainting: Starting Fresh with a Portrait Study

There is a unique, quiet satisfaction that comes with returning to a piece of art. It’s not the thrill of the first brushstroke, but the steady, deliberate rhythm of revisiting, refining, and rebuilding. Sometimes, the greatest lesson a piece of art teaches us is that perfection is a myth—and that starting over, even when it feels daunting, is often the most rewarding path.

If you’ve ever felt discouraged by a painting that didn't live up to your initial vision, this process is for you. We’ve been watching a dedicated artist embark on a journey of daily practice, working through a portrait study of a Woman by Sir Peter Leyley. This isn't just about completing a piece; it’s about developing a muscle memory for the craft itself—a constant dialogue between the artist's intention and the pigment on the palette.

Building on Mistakes: The Power of the Second Attempt

The artist shared that this portrait study is not the first time they’ve tackled it. In fact, they had completed an initial underpainting on day 18, and then painted over it on day 31. But that process resulted in a loss of likeness—a common, frustrating truth in the studio. Instead of abandoning the piece, the artist wisely decided to start again from Stage One.

This is a profound lesson in the studio: the value of the process often outweighs the value of the finished piece. By starting over, the artist isn't just painting the portrait; they are actively reminding themselves of the mistakes made previously, the areas where the composition struggled, and the techniques that need more attention. It’s a form of artistic self-correction that is both humbling and incredibly empowering.

The Underpainting Strategy

What we watch unfold is a masterclass in the foundational layers of oil painting. The goal right now is not detail; the goal is suggestion. The artist is intentionally keeping the lines and edges “blurry and undefined.” This is the genius of the underpainting stage. Instead of committing to hard lines or finished details, they are merely suggesting the general location of the facial features, establishing the overall value and the composition’s structure.

This careful approach allows the paint to breathe. When the artist eventually moves to a glaze or starts painting over top, they have the freedom to build complexity without being constrained by the limitations of the initial sketch. They are creating a scaffold—a structural foundation of color and tone—that will support the final, luminous details.

“This may look kind of rough, but I think it might be a great start to a beautiful painting.” This sentiment perfectly captures the spirit of the studio. Great art, like great relationships, is built in layers, and sometimes the roughest, most experimental stages are the most necessary for growth.

If you’re looking to improve your own figure drawing or portrait painting skills, remember that the process of layering is key. Don't fear the rough stages of your sketchbook. Use those initial layers to establish value and composition, knowing that the next step—be it blending, glazing, or adding delicate highlights—will build upon that groundwork.

This journey into the layered depths of portraiture is a beautiful reminder that painting is a conversation—a conversation with yourself, with the medium, and with the history of the art you admire.

Ready to Get Your Hands Dirty?

The best part of the fine arts is that it is always hands-on. It's the smell of linseed oil, the gritty feel of charcoal on paper, the satisfying scrape of a palette knife—it’s the sensory experience of creation that keeps us coming back. If the idea of dedicating yourself to a daily practice excites you, don't just scroll past it. Find a community that supports the work.

We encourage you to find an Art Angel near you who can guide you through these very techniques, or book a workshop to learn the fundamentals of underpainting. If you're ready to commit to the physical, beautiful struggle of creation, list your own studio, claim a creator profile, or, if you're in the mood for some friendly competition, decorate a Benny or a Rocky!