The Evolution of a Painting

My paintings go through many stages.

This one started by discovering a 40-year-old canvas of mine in a friend's mother's house. We were there helping our friend to prepare the house for sale after her passing, and I eyed the 48"x60" stretcher bars greedily. Our friend was overwhelmed and was glad to let us take the wooden supports while his brother took the painting. When we got it home (thanks, Brian, for transporting it), we restretched it and I covered it with a pink base coat. We had just been at a friend's wedding, so the bride and cake quickly appeared. Big billowy clouds were soon replaced with the deep greens of a forest.

Next I projected a photo of Redwood Park onto the canvas and painted in the negative space of the sky, peeking through the branches.

I fleshed out the darker branches and fussed with the guests.

It felt like they needed a table, and I added a baby being tossed into the air; I didn't want the bride and groom to be the sole focus.

Details of the figures gradually appeared...

They needed a few more chairs, some softenings on the colors...and the painting is done!