my favourite ways to start a painting

3 approaches to begin & keep things playful

Hello!

This post as the title suggests, is all about my 3 favourite ways to begin a painting.

I wanted to share these three starting points, because I think that how we start can make all the difference in enjoying the process, as well as being content with the outcome. Sometimes the trickiest bit is just beginning; so I hope if you need a little boost, it helps you pick up the brushes 🎨

These ways of starting have also been filmed for my latest video on youtube - If you’d like to watch these processes in action, you can check it out here:

A little bonus tidbit that I don’t mention in the video, is that it can really really help to properly ‘land’ in the studio / wherever you create, before picking up a pencil / paint brush. I know my life gets pretty full on, and if my head is all over the place, painting becomes harder. I’ve found taking a minute just to stretch / get some fresh air / maybe a very short walk, or simply closing the door of my art room to get more focus, helps me be present and tune in to making. I’ve found it makes starting so much easier.

Ok, onto the 3 processes!

Number One:

This one is great when I want to capture a more realistic painting

If I have a specific painting in mind, or want to represent something more literally, this is my go-to. I simply use some charcoal on whatever surface I’m going to use, and sketch out my plan. This is typically from a reference photo, or a sketch I’ve made in the landscape.

My aims for this one are:

• to map out the composition

• to map out the lights & darks (values) of the image

• to warm up & get a feel for the shapes, tones etc

After I’ve sketched, I simply spray with fixative, and work on top with my usual materials - often completely covering up the sketch.

- painting developed on top of charcoal sketch as a starting point

Number Two:

This process is for when I want to work slightly more gesturally or abstractly

When I really want to loosen up, and start off the painting in a playful way, I often hop straight to colour, simplifying my idea out into shapes or areas of colour. To do this I use my acrylics and an oversized brush, so I physically can’t get sucked into the details.

This beginning layer aims are:

• to cover the whole page

• to map out the rough composition

• to map out the lights & darks, using colours to start to build depth

• to very loosely map out shapes

After I’ve mapped the colour out, I’ll continue to refine colour, tone, value etc and bring in other materials on the top in the next stages.

- painting developed from colour-shapes as a starting point

Number Three:

This is the most playful and free starting point

The third, and potentially my favourite way I like to start a painting at the moment, is to simply freestyle with marks, textures and colours across the page. This is when I want to start a painting without a plan or end goal and see what arises. This might reference some inspiration, or it might not. It doesn’t have to; it can simply be about exploring materials, colours or shapes. You might completely cover this layer up, or you might really work into it to develop an abstract painting. It’s totally up to you.

The aims for this starting point are

• to really just start - start the piece, start moving materials, exploring colour

• to practice how you naturally, intuitively make marks or combine colours

• to practice not overthinking / planning

• to cover the page edge to edge

- painting developed from pure play starting point

That’s it; three short and simple approaches. If you’ve found a great way to begin, I’d love to hear what helps to get you started with a new painting, or helps you get in the zone!

If you’d like to explore more tips, video tutorials, discover extra blog posts, or join me for a painting meet-up online, you can find more information on my Patreon page, The Outdoor Sketchbook Collective via the button below:

See you Outside,