Bringing the Everyday to Life

Like I said before, this may seem like a lame finishing step, but if the previous steps were done than the painting should finish itself. Well, not totally.  We do still have to paint it.  However, if you have visualized your final painting there is nothing left to do but finish it...

I will explain how I generally finish a painting.  I can't give you an exact formula because I don't have one.  There isn't and shouldn't be a formula because than my paintings would get too cookie cutterish (yes I made that word up).   Sometimes I start with the back ground and work to the foreground, or from the top to the bottom, or from the middle to dark values, or sometimes I start with the center of interest and work out.  You see there many ways to go about this.  None of these are really better than another it just depends on your painting, the subject, and the effect you are looking for.  However, I do usually add the larger shapes first and then add the details at the end.  Also, I connect my shapes.  For example, instead of painting a building and then the tree after the building shape has dried, I will paint the tree while the building is still wet so that they bleed together.  This is so I don't have isolated shapes.  How do I know what to do for which painting?  I am sorry to say ... instinct.  Maybe it is from experience and from trying these different ways.  Again, it is from practice and trial & error.   

Here is a step by step painting demonstration to illustrate how I finish a painting.  This was not actually painted en plein air, I was in my studio.  It was easier for me to photograph my process.  However, this is how I would have painted it if I were on location.  This first photo is of my first wash.  I have done all the previous steps we have discussed so far.   My photo I used is below.  I drew a value sketch in my sketch book, drew out my composition on my paper, and completed the first wash, leaving some white areas.  I started painting this painting from top to bottom.  I painted the distant trees and then building when the trees were almost but not totally dry.  I painted around the window shapes, but painted the window details while the building walls were still wet so that the paint would bleed.  I don't like things too neat.  I stopped at the bridge and cut around the people and cars.  However, I just took enough time to take this picture and then continued to paint down the page.

First Wash and Second Wash Started

I continued on down the page, adding the middle values of my main figures and cars, shadows on the cement wall, the bushes, and the water.  When the upper half of the painting was dry, I added the railing, lamp posts, and other figure details.  You can see in the last photo that I added more detail (calligraphy) when the painting was dry.  I also darkened the background trees and the shadow under the water by glazing on dry paper.  I also added a cast shadow on the right building.  It is not really there, but I need something to help emphasize my center of interest and help direct the eye.  This is why I love being a painter.  I can make decisions like this to improve my painting.

Second Wash Continued and Details Added

 If you compare the photo with the final painting, you will see I left out and changed a lot.  But, that doesn't matter to me because even though I didn't accurately render this scene, I captured the essence.  And that is my goal!  I will probably post another demonstration so you can see another way I finish paintings....  Happy Painting!

Photo Reference 

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