Creating a painting

From Drawing to Finished Painting

How does an original painting take shape? Laurence Kirwan describes the process of sketching a subject, building up color and refining its details. The examples below show how different subjects can develop from an initial idea into artwork.

The process of creating a painting begins with the drawing. It forms the skeleton of the final result. The next step is coloring the spaces, layer by layer, And then finally details. Not necessarily in that order although the drawing always comes first. Uninspiring subjects can become surprisingly compelling.

For more background on the artist's approach, read Why I Paint.