Technique of Monochrome Painting in Shades of Grey
- Select a subject. You may consider using a black and white photograph, although most people won't have much trouble converting a color image into a black and white image with paint. Consider the type of subject you are choosing and what your rendering of that subject will be. A painting with many stark contrasts and a wide range of lights and darks will be very different from a painting that is limited in its shades.
Use the drama of a stark black, white and gray image to your advantage--find a way to justify painting in monochromatic tones. Don't just paint a painting that is black and white, paint it black and white for a reason. For example, blacks and grays can signify emotional moodiness and despair. A painting of a woman using mostly medium to dark grays against black background can signify depression, angst or loss.
Choose a paint to use. You may wish to try different shades of black, as some will be warmer and some will be cooler when mixed with white. - Consider your composition before beginning your painting. You may wish to draw on the canvas where the items in the painting will be placed. As you begin to paint, build the paint quickly and thinly at first, then more slowly and deliberately.
As the painting begins to take shape, turn the canvas upside down and consider the placement of the forms in the image. Look for errors. Consider where the darkest parts and the lightest parts are. You may wish to blur your vision while doing this. Ask yourself if the painting has a dynamic composition and if it is balanced. Ask yourself where you need to add more light or shadow in order to proceed. When making a monochromatic painting, you should take advantage of the opportunity to create visual drama with areas of light and dark. - You may wish to frame your painting. Often the frames most appropriate for this type of painting are black, white or gray. However, if you know where the painting will be hanging, hold it up in the room and ask yourself if there are any colors in the room that would look good in the frame, and help integrate the painting into its surroundings.