Blog

Because of the complexity of the composition and all it's elements, I chose to do a detailed drawing on the canvas.  I used a pastel pencil, which can easily be erased...  and I changed and erased many times!  I put figures in, took them out, changed their size and moved them around until I had something that looked 'right'.  It's not to say that there won't be more changes made as I go along.  Then after completing the drawing, I sprayed with a charcoal fixative to cement the images.  This way, as I paint, if I lose the drawing that I so painstakingly created, I can wipe off the paint and get back to the original drawing.  I don't usually create a painting this way, but rather more of a 'blocking in shapes' technique, but felt I needed the security of a detailed drawing for this painting.  To date, this is where I am in the process.  Other pressing issues have diverted my attention currently, but I'm anxious to get back to the painting.  I'm planning my next step to be a grisaille underpainting.  Doing that will help me concentrate on composition and values without initially having to worry about color.  Plus it will cover the canvas with paint and get rid of all the dreaded white.