“The method of painting I practice and advocate is called all prima, from the Italian, or premier coup, from the French. This is loosely translated to mean a direct or spontaneous attack.
Basically, this means that I attempt to execute a finished painting from the very first stroke, without such traditional intermediate steps as toning, underpainting, glazing or scumbling. And I try to complete the entire painting in one sitting, if possible. The motto of this method might be “Get it done; get it done right; get it done right from the beginning:
You must marshal all your concentration, alertness and energy so that every stroke of the brush becomes part of the finished statement, and your painting becomes unnecessary to correct or modify in subsequent sessions. Leave nothing to chance, but concentrate all your effort upon getting it right the first time. In a way, this method represents a kind of Evel Knievel leap over a chasm—the performer gets only one chance.
Naturally, this is the ideal. You’d have to be a Leonardo to achieve it each time you step up to your easel. Nevertheless, it’s the ideal you should shoot for and keep uppermost in your mind when you come face-to-face with the blank canvas.
Incidentally, this principle of striving for the finished effect from the very first stroke applies to paintings of any size, subject or degree of complexity. Even if I’m confronted by an involved composition containing several figures, I work one section at a time until it’s done.
Now let’s consider the nine principles governing this method of painting.
1) Start with a White Untoned Canvas: For the Premier coup method, which calls for a single layer of paint laid in as swiftly as possible, toning the canvas in advance is a contradiction in terms and is useless. It is useless because the subsequent paint should be a correct and final statement, without support from preliminary toning.
2) Establish Your Goal. There may be fifty or more goals that artists seek in the execution of their paintings: Achieving a beautiful color scheme, defining the esthetic qualities of a scene and portraying a mood are just a few.
3) Make Every Stroke Count: This method of painting may be compared to a surgical procedure in which the patient’s life hangs on the surgeon’s ability to make every move vital and meaningful to the success of the operation. One stroke of the brush must do what thirty strokes may lead to in less disciplined technique.
4) Be Deliberate and Decisive: While the premier coup method goes hand in hand with a speedy execution, it’s far more important to be deliberate and accurate than merely fast. Therefore think before you mix and place a brushstroke,and observe sharply.
5) Focus on the Larger Masses: Look at your subject as a series of large masses, then paint in the smaller details that lie within or upon them.
6) Maintain the Drawing: Make a preliminary drawing with your brush, even though these strokes will be completely covered in the process of laying in the larger masses.
7) Work with Speed: Time is precious and you must force yourself to paint as quickly as possible, but make sure all the while not to lose one iota of quality or accuracy as you speed your efforts. “Get it right” is more important than ”Get it Done.”
8) Treat your Edges softly: Keep your edges soft unless you want to draw the viewer’s eye to a particular area for compositional reasons, or you wish to make an area appear to advance. A sharp edge or edges fulfill both these goals.
9) Overcome the Fear of Failure. Timidity is the artist’s worst enemy and boldness the most faithful ally. Never tiptoe about or sneak up on your painting, but attack it with all the daring, resoluteness and decisiveness at your command.”
From “Portraits from Life in 29 Steps” by John Howard Sanden
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