Lately I have been discovering that making small black and white sketches in marker before the sketch actually helps the final sketch. It’s actually super fun to do and I learn a lot from the process. Things like the composition come up and I realize where the tricky parts are for perspective. I also get a map out of where the focus will be in the painting.

I have had the sketch on the side beside my painting and that helps me have faith in the plan. Because the painting doesn’t quite look right in the middle washes, that’s the point in which I’m more likely to give up or make too dark of a wash. It’s a process. (This would make a great metaphor for life).

The sketch also takes out the “stuckness” of not knowing what to paint next. Since I’ve already had a low-key sketch (which has no pressure to do perfectly), and if I like that sketch, I can make a painting from it.

Also, I have been focusing on finding my photo references with high contrast. This helps with visualizing the painting and what the layers will be. I’ve tried cropping the photos as well. Now, I’m thinking about working with simpler photos and I’ve also been thinking about how to make something that’s too busy into something that’s more simple.