The other day I wrote about “Sight Painting“, a technique I use similar to a musian’s sight reading that allows me to quickly interpret and paint a scene. I guess the reality is not much interpretation occurs as I’m simply capturing the scene as quickly and accurately (value, color) as possible.

Here’re the 4 random images I selected from my digitial image archive. I displayed each on a TV in my studio. BWT, click any of these images for the full screen version if you’d like to see larger.

Photos

Reference Photos – Click to Enlarge

My first step was do paint a wash underpainting, using transparent pigments. I don’t focus on value to much or color accuracy, but just want to kill the white of the canvas and get some nice colors to shine through.

Wash Stage

Wash Stage – Click to Enlarge

These are the final studies. Again, didn’t spend more than 15-20 minutes on each. Thing big shapes, accurate color masses, etc.

Done

Finished Studies – Click to Enlarge

I think I’m most satisfied with the bottom left image of Point Lobos, although in it’s current state I think it’s too abstract (you’re looking down from bluffs through Monterey Cypress at the white water/turbulence. Did you know what it was on first glance?

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4 thoughts on ““Sight Painting”

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