Choosing a subject

The most difficult part of any painting is choosing the subject.  This can take as little as half an hour, or as much as six months or more.  Meanwhile I can be working on other pictures, or just watching the dust gathering on my paint box.

Impatience doesn't help, and trying to paint without the right conditions is bound to end in disaster, so I wait.

This image I chose to work from this time is of a 14th century mosaic of the Theotokos, which is in the apse of a church on the island of Murano.  I chose it because the Theotokos is treated with great delicacy, with a very young face.

The first step is to decide what size canvas to use.  In this case it is 10" x 14".

The next step is to divide the canvas, and make a preliminary sketch of the the position of the figure.  I do this in pencil, and then rub out the marks, to leave only a very faint outline.

Then the fun bit.  Mixing colours, and painting the first blocks of colour onto the canvas.  This does not take a long time; it is usually the final stages that take the longest to do.

After that it is a matter of time.  Straightening lines; filling in the background; adding detail, and, probably most important of all, knowing when to stop.

Then allow it to dry, varnish and hang on the wall.

And here she is; Theotokos, based on early 14th century Murano mosaic.  Acrylic on 25cm x 35cm box canvas. January 2009.