Bracing The Storm – From Start to finish

The Sketching & Painting Process

I create my artworks on either canvas or water-resistant, primed MDF panels, working in a wide range of sizes—from 12×12 inches up to custom dimensions based on your needs.

1. The Sketch

Each piece begins with a light compositional sketch. In this example, I’m sketching a large, full-leaf tree to define the focal point and general structure of the composition. This sketch serves as a roadmap, ensuring correct placement and proportion before any paint is applied.

2. Acrylic Block-In

Next, I block in the scene using acrylic paints, covering the entire surface to eliminate any remaining white areas. The aim here is to establish rough mid-tone colours—not highlights or fine details.

Acrylics are ideal for this stage as they:

• Dry quickly

• Are more affordable than oils

• Allow for fast visualisation of tonal balance and layout

This acrylic underpainting acts as the foundation for the oil layers that follow.

3. Applying Oils

I begin the oil stage with the sky, blending tones on the palette to match the base layer as closely as possible. From there, I work down into the landscape.

To apply detail, I use a combination of small natural hog hair and synthetic brushes, carefully selected for their ability to render fine textures and delicate features.

The oils I use are alkyd-based, which means they dry much faster than traditional oils. This speeds up the process and reduces the risk of blending colours into “mud,” which can easily happen when working wet-on-wet with slower-drying oils.

4. Glazing & Layering

To deepen shadows and enhance dimension, I apply a glazing technique using Liquin Original medium mixed with oil paint. This is particularly effective in areas like tree canopies, where I use a stippling brush to give the illusion of hundreds of leaves with just a few textured marks.

From there, I build the scene layer by layer, using small rigger or fan brushes to make marks as fine as a millimetre. These subtle touches gradually bring the landscape to life, adding complexity and realism without overworking the canvas.

(Image suggestion: detail of final layers in progress)