Join me in my studio and look over my shoulder as I paint, step by step, Shady Sidewalk, a large 40x40” painting from a visit to Washington DC with my sister.

The inspiration

We were walking on F Street in Washington and I spied this large elegant clock. I immediately dragged Sarah across the street so that I could get a better shot.

I began composing the scene through my camera viewfinder, including the restaurant sign, umbrellas, planters, and overhead tree, and I took a few experimental shots. I waited for quite a while to see if I could get some interesting passers-by, but it was early morning and the only person who came into view was the man walking away from us.

No matter. I knew I could use figures from my other photos to create a story in this beautiful setting. I was excited that I had gotten a shot that I knew I could turn into a painting.

First steps

Back in my studio I used Photoshop to add the other figures, making sure they were at the right proportion and height to work in my scene.

Next, I did a quick value study on my iPad, distilling the painting into dark, medium, and light values. I was especially interested in the pattern of light values that draw your eye toward the woman and the clock, the focus of the painting.

Drawing and block-in

If you look very carefully on the left image you can see the 6x6 pencil grid on the canvas that I used to draw the image from my reference photo. It helps me get all the pieces of this puzzle in the right place and in proportion.

Then I started with very loose strokes of color. Here I was deciding what groups of colors I would use - the brightest colors as well as the range of supporting colors.

Between these two images I added details and refined values. I first painted the seated man with an orange shirt, but I later decide it was competing with the woman in red. In the end I changed the color of the clothes on both seated figures before I was happy.

My palette

My palette of colors are warm and cool versions of the primaries (yellow, red, and blue) on the right, and grey, black, and white across the bottom. Everything else is mixed from those basic colors.

Finished! Well, almost.

I thought I was finished when I reached the stage at the left. But I realized I could increase the value contrast to make the painting stronger.

So I darkened some things (black sign, umbrella undersides, clock, tree trunk, right man’s shirt, and right trees). And lightened others (right buildings, tree leaves, and foreground plants). These were all small changes, but I was pleased with the result.

Details and the whole

The details show you more of how I’m seeing a painting as I paint it. I have to remind myself constantly to stand back and look at the canvas as a whole so that I can see how all the parts work together. It’s so satisfying when I’m happy with the details and the entire image.

Thanks for joining me in my studio!

Linda

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