This demo has several phases. At any point the artwork can be stopped, but see what happens as I progress towards the final. Some isolated nice passages are lost, but an overall pleasing unity is the result. An overall balanced painting will be more successful vs. a collection of individually painting nice passages that do not relate.
8x10 panel (painted over an old painting). Use reference to suit the concept... for example, I start here with masterwork examples, then find a photo collection to match. After starting, I don't like the design (dark shape is too dominant). Therefore I find a bright, open scene and keep it simple. Next challenge is to splice the figures together with convincing light and pleasing shapes. A key to this painting is the background which needs to support the figures. This is why the first start did not work as I felt that it already was too dark and featured the adult vs. the children.
Artists mentioned in video: Edward Potthast, Joaquin Sorolla
1) Clarify your main concept (i.e., sunlight on the shore, active children, shore birds, etc)
2) Find photos to match your concepts or use a combo of master artwork + photos
3) When creating your painting don't be afraid to scrape and repaint. Watercolor artists can use lift-out techniques, or use progressive opaque layers.
4) Find 'connections' between the figure and background. Tidy edges with crisp outlines will separate a figure as if it does not belong in the environment. Destroy some edges - often these become the best passages in the painting!
