Initial Meeting and Photo Session
The first step in the oil painting process is a discussion with the client regarding composition, clothing, location, size, background and level of detail that will be incorporated in the final painting. Once preliminary decisions have been made, the photo session can begin.

Beginning the Oil Painting
When the composition has been chosen, small thumbnail paintings are created to establish the scale of the actual painting. In the thumbnails, all major colors are established and small problems are resolved.

After the thumbnail paintings are complete, a poster drawing is done directly on the canvas. The face(s) and hand(s) are rendered using charcoal pencils. This is proceeded by a thin wash of transparent paint over the drawing. Then using brushed, the wash drawing is rendered further. Small amounts of dark blue paint are then added to deepen the cooler dark shadows. The next step is to paint in all the large areas of major colors and relate the different values. Then at this step the face(s) is painted and rendered to completion.

Meeting with the Client
When the painting is near completion, I will review the painting with the client either in person or I will e-mail a digital image. At this time, input from the client will be gathered and then the painting will be finalized.

Finishing the Painting
A single-figure 25" x 30" painting takes approximately three to four weeks to complete. Multiple figures in a painting will require additional time.