Concept to Completion
Concept drawings are the beginning stage of every painting I create. Pencil and paper offer the fastest way to establish composition as well as areas of light and dark. Often I follow up these drawings with a small oil sketch, playing with color options.
"Guiding Light" - A woman holds her child and looks to the sky where a star can be seen through cloud cover.
"Filtered Light" - A man sits in the shade of a tree, but a stream of light filters through the branches and onto his arm.
"Subway Performance" - A woman admires a cellist on the subway. His instrument is illuminated from the left, he is mostly in darkness.
Drawings are also available for purchase. Framing available.
"A Light from Above" - A young woman forgets about the troubles of the day, soaking in the sun from above.
Color Oil Sketches
I then translate the drawing into an oil sketch. The final oil sketch doesn't always have the same color decisions as the final drawing, but the exercise helps me "get to know" the painting. Often it feels like the painting is coming to me rather than me going to it.