Priming Sketchbook Pages

Priming the painting surface with an abstract color field is a great way to energize a field study done in opaque media.

I like to prime a few pages in my watercolor book with abstract color shapes in casein. If you don’t have casein, you can use tinted gesso or acryla gouache. In this case, the underpainting is a random yellow shape surrounded by a tint of blue, which gives me some colors to build on. 

When I arrive at a motif I choose a page with an intriguing priming that fits the subject. In this case, a a  cluster of flowers that I'm attracted to resembles the shape of the underpainting.

Sometimes I cover up the underpainting completely with the final gouache or casein, and sometimes I let the priming colors show through, but the priming always influences the painting.

Here's a snippet from my next video tutorial "Flower Painting in the Wild," which releases Monday, August 21 Friday, August 18. I'll show you four flower paintings from the first to the final touches. Michael Klein has previewed the video and calls it "a treat for any artist."
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On Amazon: Recommended set of casein
Holbein acryla gouache also works for priming.
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During the month of August, you can join plein-air challenge to paint a storefront. Here's more information on a Facebook Event page.