Underpainting (or toning) eliminates the harsh, intimidating white canvas and allows you to paint freely without worry about ‘filling in’ the white. Use a big brush to paint a wash of burnt sienna.
Why burnt sienna? In my experience it works well with most other colors and is a warm color. In a context of blues and greens, blue sienna can take on a red appearance.
Enjoy the feel of the paint and let the brush strokes show. Don’t worry about making it even and blended, keep it loose and free. Do not start shaping your image, you’re simply creating a colored background. Have fun, get warmed up and in the mood for painting.
Don’t make your paint so thick that it looks dark, or so thin that it runs down the canvas. Simply cover all the canvas in a way that pleases you, then stop.
