Stages of a Painting

Here is my latest marsh painting while it was in progress:

"Onward & Upward" 36x36

stage 1 - drawing with paint

2 - block in marsh

3 - alla prima sky

4 -grass & water

5 - finished foreground

Stages of a Painting

Click on the far right to see this painting from start to finish, in stages. 

Painting in Progress

Here are the stages of a typical painting of mine while in progress.  My favorite way to begin is to tone the canvas with thinned paint and, using a rag, wipe away the light areas to create the drawing. This also establishes the values and light effect I want right from the start. When dry, I add some lines and dashes of color to get started. I like to work from the background forward, pretty much alla prima.