Techniques for painting backgrounds?

[mangrove]

I use oils and can never get the background right. I sometimes end up destroying a painting once it's finished because i keep fiddling with the background, I'm never happy with it

[Deborah W]

I'm so glad you asked this question. I learned from some of the answers. If you ever photograph your subject, you'll notice that the camera will blur the edges of the background and colors are softer and grayer. That's because cameras admit less light than the human eye. Try softening the lines and graying the colors. You could also thin your oils with turps and do a preliminary sketch in color. It dries fast and will show you your general color/tone layout. If your background is too strong, you'll see it. It's easy to paint over the sketch.
Fiddling with any part of a painting,hurts your work. I would do that when I was afraid I didn't know how to solve it. Walk away and do something else. Then come back and look at it again. Hold the painting up to the mirror. You get a fresh look at it. Remember the canvas only cost as much as you can spend for lunch. Your time cost you nothing. Some mistakes turn out to be the best part of the painting. What a great question!

[baxsigo]

Use a paintbrush

[crimsoncarrots]

Look at painting that you think get the background right and find out how the techiniques that were used.
Even if you just continue with your own methods you will be learning by persisting as long as you have some definite idea of what you want to achieve.

[nickodemus]

A common mistake is to work on the background separately or after the main subject. The whole painting should be worked together, though most likely the area that is not the primary focus will be less worked. If you work on a portrait, for example, the colors in the background will be reflected in the skin, especially the forehead, though possibly with a light touch. The painting should feel cohesive. You just have to paint a lot- the more you do, the more sense it will make!

[College Girl]

One thing my art teacher taught me is to NEVER over brush and just put the paintbrush down, step back and look at the picture as a hole instead of focusing on one particular area on the canvas.
Hope this helps

[Shell]

Make sure your working the entire painting- dont focus on one area and then move on to another- it has to be worked on evenly.

I usually cover the canvas in a layer of paint befre i do anything else. I use a dry brush and put down an area of one color while working in a darker or lighter shade that way i start out with a background that has some depth.

[hushcolours]

Hi,

You should be more specific, namely if your mostly referring to landscapes, still lifes or other interior scenes.
Note that usually a background cannot be too worked as not to "steal" the attention from the main subject.
Of course that a backgound may also be the main subject. This is noticeable when the artist gives a "lens blurr" effect to the foreground.
Anyway, in order for us to be abble to help you as best as we can, you should post an image of your painting (or one in progress).
You can also show your works at the Wetcanvas Oils Forum.
Good luck !

KInd regards,

Joséhttp://theartinquirer.blogspot.com