My Approach

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Three Step Approach to Painting

Hydrangeas drawing

First a drawing

Whether painting on site (plein aire) or from a photo, the first thing I do is a drawing. The drawing serves a couple of purposes. First, it aquaints me with the subject.  I have to really “see” it to draw it.  Second, I can adjust the composition to be (a) easier to paint and (b) more pleasing to the eye (at least IMHO). Third, I can adjust tones or values to enhance the composition or impose the desired mood.
Hydrangeas first painting

First painting

Next, I draw the image on watercolor paper and do a preliminary painting.  This requires that I plan how I will approach painting the subject and my palette, or what colors I’ll use to render the subject.  Frequently I will lay down a preliminary wash just to get rid of the whiteness of the paper.  I will try to avoid the brightest (whitest) elements of the painting.  The wash does not define any shapes, but gives some tone to the various areas.  Next I add the major shapes with darker tones (mid tones) and finally add the details.  In the preliminary painting I ignore mistakes and make mental notes of what to avoid in the final painting. In this one, the initial wash was too dark and I didn’t preserve the lightest areas.

Our Hydrangeas

The Final Painting

In executing the final painting I try to make all the necessary adjustments learned during the first attempt.  Using the approach allows me to paint more freely because I am not fretting about how the first painting looks and I learn what to avoid or apply in the final painting.