Window into where the work is done.

I am working on my biggest commission yet.  She measures 30" x 40"

I thought I would share a bit of the process and the work space.  I jimmy rigged a bulletin board as you can see.  In the left are the boxes that my canvas comes in where I tacked up different inspirations.  Classic Renaissance paintings for composition, color and most importantly feeling.  Some of my own stuff too - to remind me of what I like about my paintings :)  Composition is very important so I keep going back to one of the pin up sheets to remind me of proportion. Composition is why there is a grid on the canvas.  I grid the composition so all is in proportion.  The math comes before the emotion.  I am not sure if you can see the big art books on the floor but I use them for height. 

The painting is so big that I need to stand on books to work on Mary's face. 

I want to blog more about this further, but let me start with the basics.....

I laid in the background first, usually, I try to work the colors all around in a balanced way so it is a whole organism but I needed to do the "ground" first because of the technique. 

I promise I will try to show and share more.....it's been so busy here......