HOW I DO IT

MY BEST WORK IS OFTEN THE SMALLEST.  FAVORED SIZE IS 6"X 6".   I TRY TO CREATE A SMALL PAINTING OF A LARGE EXPANSE...BRINGING THE VIEWER INTIMATELY INTO MY WORLD.

 

99.9% of my work starts as a tonal.  I mix my oils and depending on what i am looking for, i might use a more reddish brown mixture, or more blackish. i then wipe off my composition with my gloved hands and paper towels. I add paint, i subtract paint.  I let the painting happen.  When things start to emerge, i let them, and then eventually i make decisions based on the forms.  It is always about the shapes, the negative and positive forms that emerge, and value.  Value is an important tool to help gain interest. and distance,  This is the skeleton of the composition.  If it is strong here, it will remain strong if i decide to go for color.

 Sometimes the work stays as a tonal...i don't always know that at the time, and after drying, i might add color.  This is usually glazed in.and like th tonal, i add and subtract until i get the desired effect.