A quote I heard once is applicable to today’s blog. “A failure to plan is a plan to fail.” So many of my painting bloopers, scrub outs, and trashed pieces can be directly traced to poor planning. In my excitement to “get started,” I often fail to take the time to “think through” what I want to see happen. I skip preliminary thumb nail sketches, value sketches, soul searching questions related to purpose or message. Like a kid at an amusement park, I just want to be turned lose without constraints. …not smart at all. As difficult as it is to force myself to slow down and think, I have learned the hard way that taking time beforehand saves untold disappointment on the other end. One process that has proven helpful involves the use of a craft paper sketch book. I’ve found the size most helpful is a 6x9 spiral bound deal. The pages are, as the name implies, brown craft paper, much like the trusty grocery bag of your mother’s day. The color is a great neutral that provides a nice surface. In fact, I like that neutral brown tone so much that I often apply a wash of brown umber and burnt umber (equal parts) on my canvas to duplicate the effect. On craft paper, I begin by sketching a miniature version of image, not detailed just basic shapes. I may sketch more than one composition until I settle on the one that makes me happy. After I settle on composition, I paint with dry paint. No solvent on that craft paper! Taking the time to do this, gives me a relatively clear idea how the image would look in a larger format. While on the craft paper, I decide the dimensions needed for larger canvas. By the time I’ve completed this craft paper version, I have a good idea where I’m headed. No wasted time is spent sketching, resketching image on the large canvas. I know where to place shapes. Below is an example of craft paper study.
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