THE RUB-OUT TECHNIQUE:

Although no one knows who originated the Rub-Out technique,
Art Historians have dated it to the time of the Renaissance.
Before a student painter was allowed to experiment with color,
they were expected to master the Rub-Out technique.
The Rub-Out is a straightforward method. You use one
color to create an entire image. The painting is concerned
with tonal range and how light falls on a given subject to
teach the artist to observe and deeply learn the tonal value
of an image before introducing color. Although it is
straightforward, the technique is demanding. It requires
profound concentration as the piece generally needs to be
complete in one sitting. The traditional oil colors used are
burnt umber or burnt sienna, although one can use any
hue as the starting point. Traditionally, the surface used is
a hardboard or masonite. It is usually covered with acrylic gesso. More recently, plaster has been used to create a textured surface that really grabs the paint. Sometimes another layer of gesso is applied. Canvas is also used as a surface base.

The whole process is built on the concept of removing pigment
from the surface, sort of subtracting from the image to create the levels of light and dark. You tone the whole surface with
your base hue, and then take a cloth, your finger, a brush (or whatever you prefer to use), and "rub-out" or "rub-off" the
pigment to various degrees creating an image that has full tonal range and depth. The result can sometimes be startlingly
Three-dimensional. Traditionally, the artist moves from dark to light,
but another popular method is to start with mid-tones and
subtract the lights and then add in the darkest values at the end. Whatever the method employed, the Rub-Out technique is
a true challenge - but is also wonderfully fun to do. It can be invaluable in teaching the artist to see the light source and how it truly relates to a subject. It shows them how to capture
the basic tonal map, deepening their understanding of how to apply the hues to achieve a full tonal range within the color. It also improves concentration, and also loosens up their style assisting them to become more "painterly" in the work.