Danny Galieote – In Pursuit of Endless Summer

For the oil on canvas paintings in the exhibition, Galieote begins with a classic, Old Master technique over the prepped canvases - an underpainting of rich, warm colors such as raw umber, yellow and red ochre, transparent red earth or raw sienna. This process allows for a blocking in of tone, composition, as well as value relationships, and is especially effective in creating warm, realistic flesh tones as well as an overall look of illumination within the work. Underpaintings are done in accordance to the “fat over lean” rule, meaning that subsequent layers of paint added must contain more oil than the leaner layers below.  Traditionally the underpainting is painted over through glazes and layers, however Galieote keeps sections of it visible to great effect. The works are then varnished to both protect the work as well as create a consistent finish on the surface. In An Evening Dip, Galieote creates a dramatic composition of cool and dark tones in a beautiful contrast of the blues of a darkening evening sky over a glittering pool with the warm glow of the windows, and the warm tones of the diver’s skin. In creating the glowing warm tones, Galieote utilizes soft glazes that leave a glimpse of the underpainting, while applying colors such as titanium white to create a contrasting opacity and coolness in other sections of the composition.