incrementally

small oil study on wood

I am probably one of the least likely of people to encourage "incrementally." I am the one that jumps without looking...wonders later. Finally, I am appreciating the virtues of "incrementally." (You can laugh now Richard.) Glazing is sort of like sneaky painting. You want one color...but oh no you don't mix it and put it down....that would be too easy and most of all that would lack the jewel-like beauty. Instead you think backwards and build from there. I want a certain grayed down warm green I start with magenta and work my way up, always careful for the edges.
It actually meets my ADHD type of way of working. In one day I may work on small layers of 5 paintings or just one painting.

small oil study on wood

another exploration

I keep thinking about the de Kooning retrospective and his  explorations. Truly painting is that... .. a constant exploration.  Making my small woodie studies helps me branch out to new color harmonies and not just rely on my plein air piece.  It's gets a full life of its own from the start.  In addition, I love the feel of these small wooden paintings in my hands and I love lining up 20 of them in a row.

line of woodie studies and paintings in process

 Row of possibilities.

One more thing:
I also count on my multitude of sketchbooks that rest in a basket beside my easel. Small sketches and lots of written reminders of color observed that's what you'll find in the basket.

A basket of ideas.