From concept to canvas

   When I was training in New York, there was a much greater emphasis on the importance of preliminary work being done before the actual piece should even be considered which I notice many practicing artist don't "bother with" as they get along in their training. Yet the "master" artists whose work I admired (Jon De Martin, Frank Porcu...) or whom I studied with (Michael Grimaldi, Dan Thompson...) were always sketching, drawing and thinking through their pencils and paper. For them the sketch was more than just practice, it was the necessary step to making successful work.   

Torso composition sketch in values

torso sketch values in paint

Here  I am sharing 3 examples of the 5 sketch phases (composition on paper, value on paper, value in paint, poster study and actual painting) from the many sketches that were done over a 30+ hour series of sessions with this model.

torso painting in progress