Aivazovsky's secret code: Why did the great marine painter remove color from paintings?

🌊 What is the main secret of the luminous water in the paintings of Ivan Aivazovsky? Most people think that the magic of his legendary seascapes lies in special blue paints or secret pigments. But the truth is that at the very beginning there wasn't a drop of blue on his canvases. The great marine painter began his masterpieces... from the gray color. 🎬 In this series, I challenge myself and repeat Aivazovsky's unique method using the example of his chamber masterpiece "Off the coast of Yalta on a Moonlit Night" (1852). In the first part, we will completely abandon color and expose the "skeleton" of the painting. You will see how the grisaille technique works, how to use just two paints to build an impeccable tonal tint and lay the foundation for the future mystical glow of the moon. 🎨 I paint with oil paints on a white primed hardboard. Enjoy watching!