 The initial idea for a painting, is usually documented in a quick sketch. As the idea matures and gets closer to being produced in painting form I begin to refine the sketch working out any compositional problems. Once the final sketch is to my liking I gather any research material I may need for the painting. In most cases these include reference photos, color studies, ect. Once the research is complete I am ready to transfer the idea to the canvas.
For standard size paintings I purchase a pre-stretched canvas or I stretch my own for unique sizes. I have also began to paint more and more on wood and prepare these canvases very similarly by cutting the wood to size and mounting stretcher bars on the back of the panel. I then prepare the surface before beginning the painting. Even though store bought canvas has been pre-gessoed, it is usually to rough for my style of work, therefore I add three coats or more of gesso, sanding between coats until it is smooth. The same is done to the wood canvases but I will use an oil painting ground instead of an acrylic gesso. The oil painting ground is easier to sand and is meant for rigid suports like wood where canvas needs a more flexable ground or gesso.
Once this is done I sketch the entire idea onto the canvas in detail. This sketch is rendered by freehand, occasionally using a projector or graphite paper to transfer an initial reference sketch that I drew. All of my paintings begin with a detailed sketch, which acts as a blue print for the work to come. Most of the creativity, Inspiration and a large portion of the mental labor occur before any paint is applied to the canvas.
Once the sketch is finished I begin to apply the oil paint. I usually paint systematically from back to front beginning with the sky and landscape. As I finish painting the sky and landscape, I use a fan brush to blend the colors and take away as much of the brush strokes as I feel is necessary to give the painting a photo style finish or a slightly rougher surface, depending on the mood of the painting.
After the first application of paint has dried I begin to paint the images next in line. These images are usually the mountains and rocks or those that stand alone in the painting, surrounded by previously applied paint. While I mix my colors I use a painting medium called Liquin, which is added in small amounts to the paint. Liquin helps to speed the drying process and causes the paint to blend more smoothly.
 Once the most recent application of paint has dried I again paint the images next in line or closest to the viewer. After I have finished the painting and it has thoroughly dried I sometimes add different colored glazes to certain areas to enhance or alter the colors I initially used. Liquin is again used in this process by mixing larger amounts of the medium with very small amounts of paint. The painting is now finished and after it is again thoroughly dry I will apply a thin coat of liquin as a final glaze.
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