Developing an Idea

How does a painting become a reality? For me, it usually starts with discovering something new. Whether I am walking in my neighborhood, kayaking on a river, or traveling abroad, I’m always on the lookout for my next inspiration. I carry my digital camera and my sketch journal with me when I am specifically going out to explore and capture nature on paper and photographs. I often find that my cell phone is very valuable as a source of recording information, because it allows me to take photos of things at the spur of the moment. Being ready when you least expect it can be very rewarding.

Digital photographs taken with a smartphone can also capture your location when you took the pictures. This can be helpful later if you need to go back to a location for more research. If appropriate, I collect samples of plant material to bring home with me for further drawing and painting. Never collect anything that is on the endangered species list. Leave the wild, just that…wild.

Collecting & Organizing Information

After the initial discovery, I head to my computer and the Internet. Technology has made it possible to get information immediately. Be careful when researching things on the Internet, however. Cross-reference information and, if possible, do your search using the Latin names of plants and birds. As I learn more about my subjects I compile a text document of everything I find interesting and where I found the information. The more I research, the more I want to know. I may go to the library to search for more specific books on my topics. I create preliminary sketches to work out ideas. Sometimes I may decide to do a life cycle of a plant, and this process can take a year before I ever put paint to the paper. It’s best to get organized right from the beginning.

As an idea develops I create a folder and put all the information in the folder with a date and title on the front. I can add to this as the year continues. Not all my ideas end up in paintings, but it’s better to have too many ideas than not enough!

Starting the Composition

Once I have enough information to start a painting, I gather all the information and begin. There are many factors to consider before starting.

Tracing Vellum Once I have decided these things, I begin working on a piece of tracing vellum slightly larger than the painting will be. I really like working with tracing vellum, because it allows me to move my components around the area. I temporarily tape the elements in place underneath the large piece. They can be rearranged or flipped in reverse. Besides researching the project, I spend the most time figuring out the composition. I find it must “read” properly. Every stem, feather, and flower must be understandable in the composition.