For some artists, they are easily inspired. For me, that is not the case. Typically, I paint from photographs or prints like calendar prints. This painting I just did impromptu as a tribute to Native American women.
I have always admired Native American women because of their dedication to family and their artesian skills. This is a brief look into how I built this painting.
You can see I did a tentative sketch on the canvas. I always build my painting in layers, starting with the background and bringing it forward.
After I have put the first coat on the background, I start on the larger areas of the primary image. Laying in shadows and highlights as you go helps save time.
What makes a painting work or not work is the details. Here, I added detailed work on the shawl fringe, skirt, and boots. The background also got dome details with a few river Rick’s and grassy patches.
You don’t have to rush a painting. Enjoy the strokes.
Have a great day. Give a kid a brush today!
Through My Eyes 