Bouguereau Master Copy Part 4-The Ébauche: First Block-In of Color
Online Webinar | Available
Bouguereau Master Copy Part 4-The Ébauche: First Block-In of Color
Duration: 1 Day- 6 Hours
Move deeper into Bouguereau's painting process. This 6hr painting demo introduces the ébauche (pronounced "ay-bosh") . This is the first block-in of color that follows the umbra layer or on top of a cartoon transferred to a linen. In the French academic tradition, the ébauche is where the painting comes to life, as the artist establishes the broad masses of local color, value relationships, and overall composition with paint stretched thin as to be transparent. This stage sets the visual roadmap for every subsequent layer of refinement. This is part 4 of a 10 part series where we continue our deep dive into copying Bouguereau's painting Le Crépuscule.
Course Outline
The Ébauche: Establishing the Color Masses- Master the bold yet thoughtful application of the ébauche. Working directly over the warm umbra layer, we will block in the major color masses of the figure and background, establishing the key value relationships and colors thinlu applied before any opaque thicker modeling begins. This stage requires decisive brushwork and a clear understanding of the painting's overall structure, allowing the artist to assess the composition as a unified whole before committing to details.
This is not the painting that we will be copying but this illustration shows the ébauche appearance in the process.
Why Attend?
This stage is the critical transition from a tonal foundation to a full color painting. Participants will learn how a good ébauche layer streamlines the entire painting process, preventing the common struggle of losing the "big picture" while working on small details. The ébauche is both a practical stage in the academic method and a powerful standalone approach to painting, teaching artists to think in masses and maintain freshness of vision. Whether you are building upon previous parts or joining with prior painting experience, this course will help to give you more control and transform how you think about the first layer of color in a painting.
What to Expect:
Painting Demos, 6 hours total: Attend a comprehensive live online demonstration focused on the ébauche—the first block-in of color over the umbra layer.
High Resolution Recordings- Every demo will be recorded and you will be able to study and re-watch them as much as you'd like.
Disclaimer:
This webinar is going to be recorded and available for purchase on the ARA Boston website. By signing up you are agreeing that any questions asked and answered by the instructor are OK to be recorded. The only video feed that is going to be recorded is of the demo, no video feed of participants will be recorded.
Morning session 9:30-12:30 PM EST
1 hour lunch 12:30-1:30 PM EST
Afternoon Session 1:30-4:30 PM EST
Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson is a dedicated painter and esteemed instructor at The Academy of Realist Art Boston, passionately committed to preserving and advancing the rich tradition of painting. Currently serving as the principal online atelier program instructor at ARA Boston, he also conducts private online lessons from his well-equipped home studio. Eric's unwavering ambition lies in weaving his own artistic link within the chain of tradition, diligently mastering the working techniques employed by the revered old masters whom he deeply admires. By integrating these methods into his own artistic process, he aims to achieve a remarkable level of authenticity and fidelity in his diverse range of subjects, spanning from captivating portraits to evocative still life and captivating landscapes. With each new encounter with beauty and truth, Eric yearns to present a fresh perspective that unveils the timeless beauty and eternal truths, albeit seen through a distinct lens and colored by a unique artistic medium.