the Painting Process

One of the great joys of bringing my art to exhibits and art shows is talking with people who have never seen my work before and explaining how it is produced and what it means to me.

Step One
I either paint a plein air study or take photos (usually photos) of the scene or subject that interests me. I then return to my studio and (in the case of digital photos) display them on my computer monitor-upside down. It is the view of the picture upside down that allows me to see the value, color and composition rather than the detail of the scene or object. After painting almost all my life (until recently) in a highly detailed style, I now want only to hint at the detail. I like to say, "paint enough for the eye to see and let the brain fill in the details".

Step Two
I use only flat oil brushes, (one size only, depending on the size of the painting). As in the painting above, "Still Open All Night", I used a #8 flat. Working quickly with thinned paint, I cover the entire panel establishing the darkest and lightest values. I then begin to paint smaller areas and squint (very important) at the reference photo or study in order to eliminate the detail.

Step Three
I gradually build up the color and correct as I go along. As the painting progresses I walk to the opposite end of the studio and look at the painting in an overhead mirror to gauge the progress and make corrections as needed. As the painting gets into the final stages I will put it in a frame and using a t-square as a guide, make some accent brush strokes. I may look at the "completed" painting for a week or two and make slight changes or it's just finished. I then sign it and hope it finds a good home with a new owner!