Small paintings (this painting is 30″ x 40″) always take longer than I expect. Starting, I intend to keep it simple, but I’m always discovering more things to explore or problems to solve. I’m only successful with finishing studies quickly when I restrict myself to monochrome.
Who knows when this painting will be done. I worked it hard today, and now I’m setting it aside; I have a lot of other things to work on. I learned long ago that paintings are finished when they are finished.
Recently I started using mars black instead of ivory black. I like the results so far and I might make the substitution permanent.