Apply a thin wash of burnt sienna, raw umber, or a neutral gray over your gessoed canvas before you start.

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Using the golden ratio to guide the viewer’s eye.

[Imprimatura] ──> [Underpainting / Grisaille] ──> [Color Block-In] ──> [Glazing & Scumbling] Step 1: The Imprimatura (The Toned Canvas)

If a fast-drying, lean layer is applied over a slow-drying, fat layer, the top layer will dry first, form a skin, and crack as the bottom layer shifts and contracts beneath it. Thick Over Thin