Oil Painting Process

 My Painting Process (Part 1) 

The artistic journey of a Painting

Every painting begins with an idea, but the finished image rarely appears all at once. I work in multiple stages, allowing the painting to develop gradually over time. This slower approach gives me the freedom to respond to what the painting needs at each step rather than forcing a predetermined outcome.

Preparing the Surface

I usually begin by toning the canvas with a thin, transparent wash of color. This removes the stark white surface and creates a more harmonious foundation for the painting. At this stage, the goal is simply to establish a surface that feels inviting to work on.

The Block-In

Next comes a loose block-in of the composition. I sketch the major shapes and place the key elements on the canvas. This stage is exploratory and flexible. Proportions, placement, and relationships between forms are established, but nothing is treated as permanent.

First Pass: Establishing the Painting

The first pass is where the painting truly begins to take shape.

At this stage, I focus primarily on expression, subject relationships, and the overall emotional character of the image. Rather than carefully modeling forms, I concentrate on simplifying the subject into large masses of light and shadow. The painting often appears rough and unfinished, but the essential mood and direction are established here. The brush strokes are loose and the colors I use here are usually dull greys from my dirt-pile or leftover paint. 

I think of this stage as a conversation with the painting rather than a process of accurate form development or value structure.

Second Pass: Structure and Form

Once the first pass has settled, I begin a more deliberate second pass.

This is where drawing accuracy, value relationships, anatomy, perspective, and form receive greater attention. Shapes are clarified, transitions are developed, and the structure beneath the image becomes more convincing. The painting gains depth, solidity, and visual coherence.

This stage often takes the longest. I prefer to work slowly, allowing forms to emerge through observation and adjustment rather than rushing toward completion.

Refinement and Unification

As the painting matures, I begin refining selected areas while also considering the image as a whole.

Edges are adjusted, color relationships are unified, and background elements are developed in relation to the main subject. Glazes or transparent layers may be used when needed to create depth, atmosphere, or subtle color effects.

At this point, the focus shifts from building the painting to harmonizing it with the surrounding. 

Final Accents

The final stage involves small but important decisions.

Highlights are added selectively, edges are softened or sharpened where necessary, and any remaining adjustments are made to strengthen the overall impact of the image. I try to approach this stage with restraint. A few carefully placed touches often accomplish more than extensive reworking.

A Continuing Journey

Although these stages provide a general framework, no two paintings unfold in exactly the same way. Some resolve quickly, while others require repeated revisions and periods of reflection.

For me, painting is not simply the act of producing an image. It is a process of observation, learning, contemplation, and discovery. Each painting teaches me something new, and every finished work becomes part of an ongoing journey.