Very nice - look forward to seeing the larger one.

So, this is the prep work prior to the finished piece.Good idea and it is something Richard does a lot of.It is also something which I need to do more often.

Good study!

I have many artist friends who say they can only paint a subject once.  This I don't understand.  I keep a suppley of 5x7 canvas panels around, (about 50), not only to do my miniatures on, but to do "studies" on.  It helps one work through the problems one might encounter and it can also improve the composition for the larger painting.  Most of my studies take less than 1 hour, and I sell them whenever possible.

In my gallery in Maine, my signature painting was of Pemaquid Light House and during the 5 years I had the gallery, I must of paintied Pemaquid close to 50 times, sold each one and even made prints of some of them.

I also find that my "Studies" loosen my painting up, as I tend to be a tad sloppy (loose) because I really do not care how they come out, I'm merely testing the composition/colors etc for the larger painting.  Most of my studies have sold, and several I've kept for myself as they came out better than the larger one.

I'm sorry, I'm guilty of JIBBER-JABBER.  Old people get that way, they are afraid that their current conversation might be their last - or at least that's what I've heard!

Thanks Kells. These small studies can be very helpful sometimes. I find myself doing them more and more.

I agree with you Richard. I know artists who also claim they can only paint a subject once. I don't understand it either. When my style became more impressionistic I started doing more small studies to help me with composition and color and I tend to paint them more quickly so it helped to develope my technique. I usually do the syudies on 9x12 or 11x14 canvas. I don't always get the larger ones done as soon as I would like because I tend to move on to a new subject when the study is finished but I will eventually get them done and like you, sometimes the study turns out better than the larger finished one. Now I'm going on and on.......anyway....thanks.