Planning a painting

When you start painting the only thing you focus on are the painting techniques.  As you start to be more proficient, you'll start focussing on other aspects to take your paintings to the next level.

Over the years, I've been spending more and more time planning my paintings. Here are some of the elements to consider during the planning phase:

• Ask yourself why I am interested in the subject you are trying to paint.
• Try out different compositions and cropping options and decide which one you like best.
• Decide what are the key elements and where they should be best situated.
• Decide where you want the viewer’s eye to land and how you will lead the eye directly to the focal point which is normally placed along an intersection of imaginary lines that divide the image into thirds.
• Determine how you will overlap some elements to create a more dynamic sense of space and better relationships between the elements.
• Identify the key shapes.
• Identify what values each shape will have to ensure you are using a full range of values.
• Decide which colours you will be using, including colours, contrasts etc. 
• Determine the direction of the source of light.
• Decide which technique(s) will be required for the different elements.

Addressing all of the above elements will increase the success of your painting. As each painting is different mastering all aspects could take years.

Here is the latest painting I'm working on. I'm enjoying using lots of bright colours. Given the number of hot air balloons, about 35 in the end, I'm hoping that I'll finish this watercolour by next weekend.

You might have noticed something different in the above picture.  I'm painting the shadows first in gray since it provides more unity to each hot air balloon.

This final painting will be 24" X 36" which is quite large for a watercolour.

Have a great day,

Danielle