Starting a new painting

 Some of my painting ideas come to me fully designed but most start with a kernel. 

 

This idea was born after reviewing a set of lion photos I took. The background didn't do much for me so I started looking through hundreds of my landscape photos from Kenya and Tanzania. Many hours later I had worked out a composition. Hmm. Nice. Good dappled light. Pretty scene. But, it felt like it was not a complete story.

 

Time to start over. What would make for a good story? What story haven't I told? Why, of all the lions I have photographed in Africa, am I drawn to this particular one right now? Well, for starters, I like the lighting on him. From the series of photos I took of this lion is there one which has the making of a better story?

 

I selected 3 or 4 of the lion from a different angle than the first composition and then went back in to my African landscape photos. There were numerous possibilities for the background but then I hit on a set which started to tell a story I really liked. They would need a lot of changes, including populating them with more animals. 

 

While working on a composition I find using the mirror function helpful. If something looks odd flipped it probably looks odd not flipped. Sometimes I decide the entire scene needs to be flipped or just part of it (keeping in mind to have the lighting consistent.)

 

It took a long time to work out my story but once I did, time to decide on a size, gesso the board, and start drawing. With the drawing outlines done, I add a light turpentine wash of yellow ochre and let that dry at least a day before starting with oil paint.