Work in Progress: Beginning

This may be dangerous but I'll give it a try.

Here is the beginning of making a painting. (Additional interim stages may or may not appear depending on how I feel about them and whether I can grab Chris for a photo before I move on.) I start with an idea and then take photos, in this case of my kitchen and the model. From the photos I'll work up one or more drawings—like the one in the post from last week below. This week I've made a sketch the proportions of a large (for me: 24"H x 28"W) already prepared canvas, for which I also have a frame. The sketch is about 9" x 11".

Preliminary sketch for 24"x 28" painting

But I wasn't entirely happy with the feel of this one, so I scanned the drawing and cropped it a couple of other ways (yes, I have canvases and frames in these sizes as well). This is my favorite 18"x 16" size; it's so comfortable for me that I'm afraid I unconsciously compose for it.

Preliminary sketch for 18"x 16" painting

Then a 24" square.

Preliminary sketch, 24"x 24"

And finally the original canvas oriented vertically.

I would like to make a larger painting. Canvases bigger than about 20" in any direction are a challenge for me—I've spent a lot of time on several that never left the studio—but with the coming of spring it may be time to venture timidly out of my comfort zone.