How I Begin a Painting: Some Tips and Ideas

'Chinese Landscape,' acrylic and ink on canvas, 80 x 40 cm

How do you begin a painting? As an artist I'm always curious to know how other artists approach a blank canvas; do they have a specific idea of the composition and image they want to paint or is the theme and approach flexible? It seems to me that this doorway into a painting is something that many artists find through trial and error though some have a clear path from college as to the kind of painting they feel an affinity with. Some of my art college friends like to work from sketches made in the landscape or from photos, or directly from the figure, and with a clear, figurative approach. Some other friends start from the paint and the idea or image evolves through their relationship with colours and shapes as they emerge. Some need to make numerous sketches to plan out a composition in advance and then draw in the elements before they begin to paint. Others may start from a line in a poem or memory, or work out abstract compositions in drawings before touching a paint brush. 

One thing is for sure; you never stop learning! I follow artists whose approach varied throughout their life as their need for particular elements broadened and changed or more questions about the nature of painting appeared along their journey. I think this is true of all artists though especially with abstract artists there is a need to follow a path to discover the language and poetry of paint. The more you paint, the more its potential speaks to you.

The posted painting shows one of my approaches. This was painted to commission so the brief was fairly specific but still allowed me room to improvise, which is one of the aspects of painting that I enjoy. The client said: it must fit with my Chinese cabinet (which was quite ornate); it should feature Chinese elements; animals and houses would be nice. Then we agreed on mountains and waterfalls. The great thing with digital technology and smart phones in particular is that you can send photos of the painting as you progress, and she was happy with all stages from the start. 

Though I was working to a brief I began the painting as I begin most of my work, with thin layers of colour and fluid paint in order to find shadowy forms that could then take life. I like to let the paint suggest imagery though I don't always work that way; sometimes I have a specific memory I want to translate  - painting, for me, is always my translation of the world around me - and I may have an idea of the kind of composition I need. Over time, certain elements (shape, colour, brush strokes) may take priority and this influences how the painting looks.

I love those early washes and marks but often they have to disappear under stronger more meaningful elements for the image to have clarity. I worked this painting in the same way I work with ink on rice paper; it had to have a certain spontaneity while also suggesting a sense of moving upwards (and downwards) and I liked the idea of a yellow sky - yellow in China conveys the idea of royalty or something special - and the tree on the top peak was painted as a feature to stop the viewer's eye.

In my next post I will be adding photos of a new work in progress to give an idea of how I begin a new painting. This will be painted from the title 'Vestiges of Things That Have Gone.' I don't often start from a title (most times I title the painting once it is finished though there may be a particular theme), but I have a pressing reason for this painting which I will write about next time.

There's no right or wrong, your approach is whatever allows you to convey your idea. Any artists reading this, feel free to leave comments on how you face a blank canvas.

Different but Painted with the Same Hand

'February Poem,' oil on canvas, 60 x 45 cm

I used to worry a lot about consistency of approach in my work but in the last few years this worry has simply become irrelevant. I don't censor myself because everything feeds into my core approach and both figuration and abstraction overlap in my work. Ideas spin off in to other ideas and I want to keep it all flowing. 

Before art school I was initially tutored by a traditional landscape artist and the first painting I am posting reflects this. It is being entered for a landscape event and it was inspired by a group of trees I pass several times a week. I love the colours of winter (even though most of my work is brightly coloured), and while much of my work is process driven, this ended up being an intense exploration of those subtle winter colours and the movement of branches. Sometimes I like to return to this more figurative mode of working because it helps me 'tighten up' my abstract based work and pushes me to think about edges and drawing, which are as important components in abstraction or spontaneous ways of working as they are in figurative paintings.

'Integration,' oil and acrylic on canvas, 100 x 140cm

This second painting is a work that is still in progress - a previous version was posted quite recently - and I am still thinking about it. I wanted a lot of empty space in this painting and the theme is integration and I wanted the figures to integrate with the 'bricks' of colour and to become brick-like in places, and for various shapes to emerge from the landscape to symbolise evolving ideas and connections. This is largish, 100 x 140 cm.

'Eventually the Light came back,' acrylic and ink on canvas, 60 x 45 cm

I am also getting back to working from my ink paintings and taking ideas from them on to canvas. I enjoy the life of brush strokes. The above posted painting may still be in progress. Once I have finished the more figurative based paintings I will be painting a series of ink works on rice paper and taking them on to very large canvases to explore the liquid qualities of paint, mark making and drawing with colour.

My main point is, do what you need to do. Let it make sense later when connections may be revealed. This way new ideas slowly filter through and there is no right or wrong way.

PS. I was pleased to find that my painting 'Land Spirits' arrrived in Macedonia safely (posted in the previous post).

Paths Long Travelled

September 25th Saturday.

This date was circled in my diary many months ago. Scrawled in red was, 'Don't forget APT Open Studios!' These open studios showcase the work of artists working at the APT studio complex, in Deptford, London. I was really looking forward to this event because several of the artists were my tutors at college (Mali Morris - newly elected to the Royal Academy - Clyde Hopkins, Geoff Rigden), and one artist, Nicola Rae, was in my year at college. I was also curious to see what they are doing now, and hoping to re-open connections. Being an artist is a lonely business, and having artist friends is of great value. They are among the few people who are able to understand one's daily obsessions and preoccupations.

I ended up spending nearly 4 hours going around the studios - there are 37, plus a gallery - and I was in heaven, being able to talk art! There was a great variety of approaches and themes, from abstract through to figurative, and after lots of animated discussions about paint and aesthetics, I had a lovely talk with Nicola. We reminisced about our student days, and I suddenly had an inner vision of paths long travelled. Far from being a painful reminder of the passage of time, the visit highlighted a luminous path stretching into the future.
('Park, Night Paths,' Oil and acrylic, 61cm x 45cm. 2010)