My Painting Process: From Sketch to Masterpiece

Everything I paint begins with a charcoal sketch directly on the canvas. Before adding any color, I spend hours on the 'underpainting' stage, where I map out the facial structure, lighting, and shadows. It is the most critical part of my work because it ensures the final portrait has depth and accurate proportions before I ever touch a brush with oil or acrylic.

When you commission a painting, you aren't just getting a finished product. You are getting a piece that has been built over 65 hours or more, depending on the complexity. I work with high-quality oil and acrylic paints on fine-grain cotton canvas, and I never take shortcuts.

My process follows a few key stages:

• The Foundation: I start with a charcoal sketch to get the likeness perfect.
• The Underpainting: This is where I block in the primary shapes and shadows. Think of it as a detailed map for the final portrait.
• Layering: I use the 'Fat over Lean' technique for my oil paintings. This allows the paint to dry correctly and ensures the portrait will last for generations without cracking.
• Details & Highlights: This is where I focus on the quirks, the glints in the eyes, and the unique textures that make a face look alive. I often work on these details last to ensure they pop.

For large-scale tribute pieces, I use custom heavy-duty wooden stretcher bars to prevent warping. I also apply museum-grade varnishes at the end to protect the work from UV light and dust. Whether it is a small 16-inch canvas or a massive 5-foot tribute, the care I put into each layer remains the same. If it isn't perfect, I redo it. That is how I ensure your memory is captured exactly as it should be.