I’d like to share the process I go through to create my paintings. I start by taking a photograph, or editing an old photograph into a composition that I find pleasing within a square format.
This is a photo I took a week or so ago. I had been taking a shot of the Shopping cart actually, but when I was cropping the photo, I decided to include the cute scene in the top right corner.
Next, I separate the colors, using a posterize filter on the computer, into several images, beginning with 2 or 3 colors, and gradually adding more to each successive image. The image above is the result. I start painting from this image. I put a grid on the photo and a grid on my canvas to help me map out the scene.
Above you see my first pass at the painting. I will paint versions with more and more colors successively on top of one another using semi- transparent paint mixes.
Here you see the next posterized version of the photo. On my next post, I’ll show you the painting after I add these colors to it. There will be another posterized version to add on afterwards, then I will paint using the original photo on top as my reference. The ultimate result will be – I hope, a depth and dimension that wouldn’t be there if I had just painted the image from just the original photo.
More importantly, I find that this method allows me to see the subject better. I am more able to focus on the colors, shapes and tones of the image, rather than their distinct and separate “indentities”. My method is a way to train myself to see the entirety, rather than “an eye”, or “a leaf” or “a house”.
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this method to anyone, but I enjoy it, and thought others might enjoy seeing the process go through its stages. Feel free to share your thoughts with me as the works progress.
Patrick J. McNally - Paintings 