Concentration

It takes a lot of focus and concentration in creating a painting. There are so many things to keep in mind to get it right. The composition is the basic first step. Compose your painting with a strong value pattern. Keep it simple and have that pattern lead the viewer in and around the painting. Sounds easy enough but I for one need to take a breather from a painting to move on to the next to stay fresh. The painting benefits by being left alone for a while.

James Gurney came up with the B.L.A.S.T. Rule, which I have taped to my easel.
The B.L.A.S.T. Rule
BIG BRUSHES - Use the biggest brush possible for a given passage
LARGE TO SMALL - Paint large shapes first, followed by small shapes
ACCENTS LAST - Save your tonal and chromatic accents until last
SOFTEN EDGES - Try to soften any edge that doesn’t need to be sharp
TAKE YOUR TIME - Take time to get the center of interest right 



Works in Progress

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