What is Alla Prima Painting?

Have you ever wondered how to paint alla prima? Or perhaps you're wondering what alla prima painting even is. In this article, we will explore the history of alla prima, its techniques, and the artists that use it. By the end, we hope that you will feel inspired to try alla prima for yourself!

What is Alla Prima?

The term alla prima refers to a painting technique that focuses on completing a piece of art in one sitting. It is most commonly used with oil paint. 

Alla prima originated in the early 19th century in Italy and was popularized by Old Master painters such as Titian and Tintoretto. 

Working alla prima means directly applying the paint to the canvas without an outline or drawing. This method allows artists to capture the immediacy of their ideas, offering them more freedom and spontaneity with their brushstrokes. 

Alla Prima techniques:

To achieve successful results with alla prima painting, it is important to practice good color mixing and brushwork. Wet, thicker paint should be applied with bold, confident strokes that show the artist’s intent. It is also recommenced that artists use a limited palette of colors, such as ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow or yellow ochre, cadmium red or alizarin crimson, titanium white, and ivory black if necessary. 

With practice, any artist can master the alla prima technique and create beautiful paintings in one sitting.

What Are the Benefits of Alla Prima Painting?

Painting alla prima is a popular and rewarding painting technique that provides a variety of benefits for the artist. Alla prima, which means "at first attempt" in Italian, allows the artist to capture the freshness and spontaneity of the moment, creating an emotionally charged painting. 

Additionally, alla prima paintings can be completed quickly. This allows for more paintings to be created in a shorter amount of time. Unlike some other painting techniques, the artist does not have to wait for layers to dry in order to apply more paint. They work directly on wet paint using brushes or sometimes a palette knife for texture until the painting us complete. 

Finally, alla prima paintings are often seen as more honest and expressive as they give a glimpse into the emotions of the artist during that particular moment of creation.

What Are the Steps in Alla Prima Painting?

Alla prima painting is a wet-on-wet painting method which produces bold colors and brushstrokes. Alla prima painting can be used for both plein air and studio paintings and is a great way to capture the essence of a scene or object. If you are interested in this technique, here is a step by step guide for you to use: 

1. First, find the scene you want to paint, whether it be outdoors, indoors, or something in-between. 
2. Next, identify the boundaries of your scene, whether you are painting plein air, or doing a Still Life. 
3. Identify you lightest and darkest areas in your piece, and your sharpest and softest edges. (These are the cherries of your painting! Don't forget them!)
4. Begin laying down the base colors of your painting as you block in your shapes. Use progressively thicker layers of paint to create texture and form. 
5. Lastly, refine the details and finalize your highlights and shadows of your painting. 

Alla prima painting is an enjoyable way to create beautiful pieces of artwork. With practice and a bit of patience, you can master this technique and produce stunning artworks.

What Equipment Do I Need for Alla Prima Painting?

Alla Prima painting is a fun approach to painting, but it does require the right equipment and materials. If you’re just starting out in Alla Prima, here’s a list of essential items you’ll need. 

Materials: 

• Palette
• Paints
• Brushes
• Paper towel roll
• Palette knife
• Mineral spirits
• Canvas, board, or other surface
• Easel

Make sure you have a good quality set of paints. Look for paints that are highly pigmented, as these will give you the best results. I personally recommend Winsor & Newton's Winton Oil paint. 

You’ll also need a selection of brushes in various sizes and shapes. Having both hog-hair and synthetic bristle brushes in flat and filbert with at least one detail brush should cover you for most scenes. 

When selecting a surface to paint on, choose a canvas that is sturdy and won’t warp or buckle when it’s wet. 

Other items you might need include a variety of solvents or oils for cleaning your brushes and use with thinned paint. With these supplies in hand, you’ll be ready to start Alla Prima painting!

Tips for Successful Alla Prima Painting

Alla prima painting is a technique that allows you to quickly capture an image in one session. It's an exciting and rewarding way to paint, but it can be challenging to get the results you want. Here are some tips for successful alla prima painting that will help you create beautiful artwork: 

• Take a minute before you start painting to visualize the composition
• Use high-quality materials that won't fade overtime
• Make thick paint application when starting out and move it around where you want it. 
• Lay in your darks and mid-tones down before adding highlights
• Don't be afraid to make mistakes! Mistakes can lead to unexpected results, and timid brushstrokes show through to your viewers.
• Experiment with different brushes, color palettes, and techniques to find what works best for you. 

With practice, patience, and these tips in mind, you'll soon be creating stunning alla prima paintings!

Famous Alla Prima Artists

• Vincent Van Gogh is known as one of many artists to use the all prima technique, specifically in his oil painting "Starry Night."
• Diego Velázquez, a famous Spanish Baroque master, portrait painter, and court painter of the Spanish king, used the Alla Prima technique.
• Claude Monet was an impressionist who inspired hundreds of followers with his landscape work using Alla Prima and plein air.
• Winslow Homer, known as the founder of American realism painting, was an outstanding marine painter using the Alla Prima method.

Conclusion:

Painting alla prima can be a fun and rewarding if you want to jump straight into painting. By having an understanding of what alla prima is and how it works, you can become a more successful painter with time and practice.