What is Alla Prima technique for oil paintings?

It is a name called Alla Prima for oil paintings, it is a fast painting technique, what is it exactly?What is Alla Prima technique for oil paintings?
It's painting right on to the canvas outdoors usually, it can be done in a studio setting as well.


The impressionist's used it outdoors and with it came a spontaneity that you can't get with a studio painting.


Alla Prima is basically taking the oil straight from the tube and applying it to the canvas and pretty well mixing your colours on the canvas as you work the painting. It is usually thick in application but can be worked thin.What is Alla Prima technique for oil paintings?
A La Prima means painting directly onto the canvas without using a drawing or underpainting, using paint straight from the tube without mixing any medium with the paint. This means the painting is done in one sitting, with only one layer of paint. The word Prima means ';first';.





The term for outdoor painting is Plein Air - the techniques can be combined but are not necessarily the same thing.