Every painting is a conversation — between you and your subject, between what you see and what you choose to say. This free handout walks through that conversation from the first spark of an idea all the way to knowing when to stop.
Originally created for my IAPS convention talk, Making Paintings gathers the ideas I come back to again and again at my own easel: how to do just enough preliminary work without draining the energy out of a piece, how to start with strong shapes and value, and how to recognize when a painting is finished (hint: it’s not when it’s polished — it’s when it feels unified).
You’ll also find two of my favorite quick-reference guides tucked inside: How to Simplify, ten ways to cut through a too-busy reference photo, and Six Keys to a Successful Painting, a reminder that less really is more. Think poems, not novels — and a haiku would be best.
Download it, print it, tape it to your studio wall. I hope it keeps the momentum going.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE HANDOUT
Happy Painting,
Marla
