Study: Making ‘The Call’ Part 4

OK, so where are we now? The under-painting is done and the finishing work is started.

To recap, my process is divided into several stages:

1. Design/Drawing: I draw the deign with pencil then fix it with ink. The drawing is a plan: I work through every area and identify any issues. I can change the plan later; I might add a room to the house, say, but I will not change the house into a boat. If I need to change the house into a boat, it was a poorly designed house. When the drawing is done, I cover the surface with a neutral, varnish-based ground (the reason for preserving the drawing with ink).
2. Under-painting: I work out large masses and tones. I do not try to finish anything except the most trivial passages. Whatever I paint is not calculated to appear like I intend it in the final version, but represents a stage to the final version.
3. Finish: With most of the major decisions made, I finish each area. Poor drawing or design choices become evident at this point, which is why I try to finish the drawing during the first stage.
4. Final painting: I calibrate and emphasize one area over another. This stage continues until the painting looks delicious to my eye.

The Call version 4

Currently, the background pavement, left-hand tree, and pediment are finished. Only the pavement and tree satisfy me. The pediment needs more work. The rest of the painting is still in the under-painting stage.

I am right-handed so I work from left to right. My daughter once asked me, “Why do you sometimes hold that big stick when you paint?” I explained that the big stick–actually a broom handle–is a maulstick used to support my painting arm and prevent it from dragging into the wet paint.

Earlier versions:

Part 3

Part 2

Part 1

 Finished painting