Underpainting in Oils | In The Shallows
- Marion Dutton
- Feb 18
- 1 min read
In the Shallows — Underpainting in Oils
In the Shallows is a full oil painting of a duck landing in shallow water, built using a traditional underpainting followed by colour layers completed in one sitting.
This piece was painted with structure in mind from the outset. The underpainting established the main tonal relationships early on, allowing the colour layer to sit confidently on top without overworking the surface.
Painting Process
Rather than focusing on detail too early, the painting was allowed to develop in stages. The background was kept loose and restrained so it would sit back, while the duck remained the clear focus.
Colour was then worked directly over the underpainting, letting the layers underneath influence the final result. The water and splashes were added towards the end using more opaque paint, keeping the movement lively without pulling attention away from the main subject
Finding Beauty in the Ordinary
This piece is called In the Shallows. We have a pond in our garden, and a couple of ducks visit us each year, which is what drew me to painting this simple, everyday scene — finding beauty in the ordinary.
Watch the Painting Come Together
For those who would like to explore this way of working in more depth, full-length oil painting tutorials using underpainting and traditional methods are available inside MazArt Academy.