The Thumbnail Sketch
Every new painting has its unique starting point, often a particular colour, mood or atmospheric effect can trigger the beginnings or hint of the painting to follow.
I like to start this process with the initial visualizing and feeling the mood of the painting. Once this is understood, a small “Thumbnail” pencil sketch is made.
This enables me to work out composition, tonal values and simplifying the scene to only include the elements that are necessary.
Colour studies are then made and decisions such as which brushes will give me the “marks” required to express my subject.