It all starts somewhere....

FINALLY. It is starting to rain! It's been threatening to every day of the week, causing me to put off my running. Today I actually went to the park but had to cut it short because it began thundering. And NOW it's raining...well at least the weather is no longer lying to me...

In other news. PRETTY much done with this painting. I had to stop working on it for a while though. I need to look back at it in a week or so with fresh eyes so I can see any mistakes and add the rest of the details. But otherwise...I'm calling it nearly complete.

And since I pretty much finished this painting I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased a new canvas to begin a new painting. The canvas is pretty big, 20 something by 20 something...I'm in the zone lately! I figured I would take photos of the step by step process. I'll warn you now, it's not pretty, but every painting has to start somewhere. ;]

The reference/stock photo I am using. I have it open in photoshop.

I put down the wash here. Basically just a really really thinned out layer of brown oil paint. So the canvas isn't just pure white...

And then I quickly sketch out the proportions and where I want everything. Doesn't look much like anything huh? But it's just a guideline!

Laying down the basic shapes of the shadows. Just so I know where the blocks of shadow are. Now I think we can tell it's a person...

Adding some colors. And fixed some of the facial construction. It's still a bit weak...but it'll work itself out eventually.

 

More colors and also some more of the background is added. I'm wanting this painting to have a very dark background so the light in his hands is more prominent.

Added more colors to his hand and arms as well as some flesh tones on his face....and some smiley faces to brighten up my painting. ;p

AND this is where I am now. Added some color to his shirt, more black in the background, and more shading in his other hand.

The rain is coming down harder now! Well that's about it for today! Hopefully I'll get to work more on this tomorrow and show you guys how I made this painting not as ugly...