Looking nothing like the original painting, Canvas #3 is finally done. This painting was an exercise in glazing – building layers of transparent paint to reach the final point.

I completely appreciate the technique … and at the same time it was definitely not a technique that I would choose first over others. I love getting lost in the painting process. I love splashing paint around the canvas; painting more intuitively than with an end point in mind. Glazing works best slowly and methodically. Building layer on layer until the story is told.

My very serious friend here took me quite a few weeks to finish. I thought working in a square would be interesting but actually in many ways the shape challenged my plans for composition.

I learned quite a bit by completing this painting and that is really what it is all about: learning, creating, learning and creating more.

This is the evolution of canvas #3 (from original painting, then overpainted and turned into my serious friend):