Painting Big Paintings

Last week a wonderful plein air painter, Laurel Daniel 

posted a very informative "step by step" of how she'd done a really big painting. 

(She usually paints on the much smaller side.) 

It was so helpful to me, as I am attempting a similar challenge.

A few months ago, a friend had given me a huge blank 5' x 3' canvas.

So during a recent heat wave, 

I decided to crank up the air conditioning and attack it.

I had to bungee cord the thing to my easel!  

I covered my taboret with freezer paper to use as a pallet. 

(A la Ken Auster) 

I did a grid and 

blocked in my map using red charcoal.

A big mistake. It made a mess.

I blocked in the dark and light sides of the figures 

the same way I do my small paintings 

using much bigger brushes

Then roughly blocked in the background just to define the figures.

So, this is where I am. 

I'm not sure if I will finish it  

or just cover it up and start over.  

Here is my read on painting huge paintings so far:

1. Details are important so you have to get it just right. 

2. It's harder to just make a stroke and leave it.

3. You have to use an extraordinary amount of paint! 

4. Not to mention how much time it takes!

So it's a huge investment! 

My short attention span and need for immediate gratification 

has kept me away from this.

Now, I know why!  

Note: 

Be sure to visit my Patience with Patients blog 

to see what we did today!