Step One:

Decide What You Want to Paint

Easier said than done sometimes... There are about a million ideas in my head wanting to be painted!

Step Two: Do some sketching!

I keep a sketchbook to record and refine ideas- but if all you have is a piece of copy paper- Fine! Sketch on it.

Step Three:

Prep the surface.

I usually paint on hardboard or masonite panels. Masonite is my preference but in really large sizes it gets very heavy. For this painting- I am using canvas because it needs to be a really large painting to cover up the really large hole over my mantle. Seems the original owners had a dedicated space for a box tv.

I use basic liquitex Gesso (pronounced Jesso). Gesso is a primer and a sizer meaning it tightens a canvas. And no one wants to paint on a saggy canvas. It is tempting to skip this step because I want to get right to painting!! But dont. If you are saying- "I bought a canvas from a store and it says that its pre- primed! So I can paint!" Drop the paintbrush and walk away. The canvases from the store are BARELY primed. If you try to start painting the canvas will eat up your paint and then you will spend twice as long- and twice the $ on paint- trying to cover the surface. PRIME IT. Prime it good. Prime it until the canvas surface doesn't feel gritty.

Use a decent house paint type brush to prime your canvas.  A cheap brush will shed and then you will have to pick hairs off your canvas.  Not fun.  I actually used a cheap sponge brush this time and it worked ok.  You want a smoo… — Use a decent house paint type brush to prime your canvas. A cheap brush will shed and then you will have to pick hairs off your canvas. Not fun. I actually used a cheap sponge brush this time and it worked ok. You want a smooth surface to paint on.

Step Four:

The Underpainting

Every gal needs a good foundation garment-right? Same goes for your painting. An underpainting is the girdle of your art. Its the traditional way to start a painting. You use one color: burnt sienna- to draw out the painting on your canvas. You change the value (the darkness/lightness) by using water with your paint. This step allows you to plan out your painting. Its like a sketch. Its good to get everything laid out in this manner.

Finally: Start painting.

Now, I usually allow my underpainting to dry before I begin because I want to be able to paint over it without the burnt sienna mixing up with my colors. You may want to jump right in and thats fine too.

I'm having so much fun with this painting! I haven't done any paintings this large in awhile. (36"square) I'm so ready for spring - and I don't think it will be here any time soon - so I will just have spring in my painting.