One of the lay-in techniques I demonstrate to my composition and painting classes is an abbreviation of the academic technique called an "ébauche". Academic painters would draw the lines of the composition on their canvas and then varnish it down and let that dry before the began their underpainting. Then on the white or lightly toned canvas, they would block in the entire composition with transparent paint over the indelible line drawing using lots of fast drying medium and no white... it's like water color painting with oils. This was uber-academic Bouguereau's manner of beginning a painting and you can see to what degree of finish he could take a piece so it's a sound way to go. For the demo, I use an india ink brush pen which you can wipe off with a wet paper towel for corrections, but is indelible to oil and turpentine. The good thing about this technique is you can always see your line since the paint is transparent, so it's a good way for the painter to get over their fear of "losing" their line drawing when they begin a painting. Also, whether the paint is transparent or opaque, you can get a very realistic arrangement either way. Here are the three lay-ins from the three painting classes this week; this is a fun set-up I do, I try to vary the lighting from week to week so the students don't get into a rut with the limited lighting options in the prop room at school. oil on canvas panel, 24 by 18