Alla Prima Painting: Master the Wet-on-Wet Technique

Alla prima, Italian for "at first attempt," means completing a painting in one session while the paint is still wet. This direct approach produces fresh, spontaneous work with beautiful colour blending.

What Is Alla Prima?

• Complete painting in one session
• Work wet-into-wet throughout
• No waiting for layers to dry
• Direct, confident brushwork
• Favoured by Impressionists

Benefits

• Freshness: Spontaneous, lively results
• Speed: Finish quickly
• Blending: Seamless colour transitions
• Unity: Cohesive colour harmony
• Learning: Develops decisive painting

Essential Preparation

Plan Before Painting

• Sketch composition first
• Decide on colour palette
• Know your value structure
• Prepare all materials

Mix Colours in Advance

• Pre-mix main colours
• Have enough of each
• Arrange logically on palette

Technique Tips

Work Large to Small

1. Block in large shapes first
2. Establish values early
3. Add details last
4. Don't overwork

Confident Brushwork

• Make decisive strokes
• Avoid excessive blending
• Let brushwork show
• Each stroke should count

Best Subjects

• Portraits and figures
• Still life
• Plein air landscapes
• Quick studies

Recommended Paints

Oils are traditional choice. See our oil paints guide:

• Slow drying allows extended working time
• Beautiful blending properties
• Rich, buttery consistency

Explore our complete painting guides for alla prima supplies.