A glaze is simply a thin, transparent layer of paint and glazing is simply building up the colour by applying thin, transparent layers one on top of another, dry layer. Each glaze tints or modifies those beneath it. So why is glazing something that can trouble, and even threaten, artists so much? Well, while the theory may be simple, putting it into practice takes patience and persistence to master.

If you’re a painter who needs instant gratification, glazing is probably not for you. But if you’re a painter wanting to take your paintings up a notch, glazing will give you colours with a luminosity, richness, and depth you cannot get by mixing colours on a palette. Why is this? In very basic terms, it’s because light travels through all the transparent layers (glazes), bounces off the canvas, and reflects back at you. Your eyes mix the layers of colour to ‘see’ the final colour, giving a luminosity you don’t get with a physically mixed colour.

Building a painting in layers gives a deeper understanding of tonal composition. A seemingly dull, flat painting need not necessarily be abandoned but can be revitalised by the glazing process.

During this workshop we will experiment with glazing both with creating new works and also revitalizing old ones. Although oil paints are possibly the most suitable paints for this process the necessary drying time renders them unsuitable for a one day workshop. I suggest you work with watercolours or acrylics.with matte acrylic medium.

Materials to bring:

Heavy duty good quality paper.

Watercolours or acrylics and matte medium.

Discarded paintings to try out the process on.

Photographic reference material, preferably of your own.