I almost always start my canvases or panels the same way ... with an underpainting. It adds mystery and glow even if one can't consciously see it. And I try to leave a bit of that underpainting visible in every painting too, but this doesn't always happen. See the photos below to get an idea of how I work and please contact me with any questions or comments, or tell me how you start a painting.
The start...
An early stage...
Obscuring begins...
Final! 'Blond' Bear 16x16 Acrylic on Panel