Classical Realism- 30 days to complete, 20 x 34 inches "Brothers keeper" Oil on canvas, Private collection.
Alla Prima four hours to complete.18 x 24 inch, "Early Morning Prayer ", Oil on panel private collection .
This article is for the first time art collector. Alla Prima means several things all at once. First and foremost It is working wet in wet, kind of like an ice skater skating on ice. It is a slippery business to move wet paint and create the right size, color, edge, and value with each stroke of the brush, as you work the painting from beginning to end. When done well with proper time and skill, the results can appear unbelievably beautiful and create a deceptively simple appearance!
This is one of the most difficult types of painting styles to learn. Generally the painting is begun small, perhaps an example size 11 x 14 inches. The painting is completed in one session of one to four hours, with as few layers of wet paint as possible. Doing a large painting such as a mural would require numerous sessions and days. Subject matters such as buildings, portraits or figure take more time than say a simple landscape painting.
Artists will often begin their painting with a preliminary under-painting sketch with graphite, charcoal, or paint. These under-painting marks and lines for reference may or may not remain in the final painting according to the individual artist's personal sense of aesthetics.
For the Alla Prima painting style, some parts of the painting are more abstract and will remain so, either because of limited time, budget, or artist's personal purpose. This is a quick limited effort for the artist; he or she never intends to make all of the image well defined. This is the essence of Alla Prima painting! It is the short hand approach in painting!
The Alla Prima method style creates a fresh simplified view over classical realism. This style has an unfinished appearance. Details are primarily reserved for where the artist wants the viewer to focus in the work of art. Some people like lots of detail and some do not. For sure, more detail in a painting requires more time, which increases the cost of the work of art.
This is what started the impressionism and Alla Prima art style movements. The gallery owners selling classical realism wanted to make more money in a shorter amount of time. Young less skilled artists wanted to make more money as well. Thus impressionism and Alla Prima (direct painting methods) came into the art market. In the end you get what you pay for. Everyone has a budget for the art that they want, to inspire their lives.
Final comment :
Through skill, passion and creative minds artists are able to make priceless works of art for the world to enjoy. I do love art; that is why I am an artist! I work day and night creating art on my little island in Nauvoo. I am a castaway, and I do like ice. Has anyone seen Wilson?
sincerely
Realist painter Michael Bedard
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