Renoir Made Me Do It - 10 things I learned from The Master

In order to write and illustrate ‘Paint Like Renoir’, I was required to produce a series of paintings that would emulate the Master’s technique and allow me to deconstruct his methods in a step-by-step way. My first attempts, based on a few comments that I had read and some preconceptions about Renoir’s approach were woefully inadequate, lacking the luminous colour and the daredevil paint handling of the Frenchman.

I had to look much closer at the Master’s work and read between the lines of his and other’s reflections on his technique. Here are 10 things that I learned in the process that have changed the way that I approach oil painting.

1. Begin your painting with thin diluted paint - it covers the canvas quickly and is easier to handle than quantities of thicker paint. 
2.  Work on a white canvas surface - the colour in the dilute paint appears more luminous as the white background shines through. This is a helpful way in to painting with more intense colours.
3.  Paint shapes not lines - the image can evolve gradually and instinctively.
4.  Add linseed oil to your mixed colours - the paint wil flow more easily allowing you to 'draw' in paint.
5.  Extend your range of colours particularly towards the brighter cadmiums and chromes.
6.  Work alla prima for as long as possible - this can often be pushed further than you first think - especially if the paint mixtures are fluid enough.
7.  Deconstruct your subject and work in a particular order - for example with onion illustrated, the outer skins were painted last, because they sit on top of the other layers. 
8.  Balance warm and cool colours - identify cool and warm darks and use them alternately
9. Work with a variety of paint consistencies - in the composition of the 2 girls below, the background areas are painted thinly, while the figures have been built up with thicker paint 
10.  Conclude with Final Emphasis - add the lightest and brightest, or darkest accents at the end.