Just a quick observation today. I've been working on portraits lately. Here's the routine:
Step 1) sketch the face, apply underpainting, apply more paint, apply more paint, stare at it with head cocked, apply more paint, look from reference photo to painting and back, scratch head, apply more paint.
Step 2) finally do some rough measurements, realize EYE is in the wrong position, white out dark areas, resketch eye, paint, apply more paint to blend, stare at it with head cocked, apply more paint, look from reference photo to painting and back, scratch head, apply more paint.
Step 3) finally do some rough measurements, realize NOSE is in the wrong position, white out dark areas, resketch eye, paint, apply more paint to blend, stare at it with head cocked, apply more paint, look from reference photo to painting and back, scratch head, apply more paint.
Step 4) this time, take the time to do accurate all-over measurements to see that the JAW is off which is throwing everything else off and adjust it, then resist the urge to jump back in with the paintbrush in order to reassess everything first, make any adjustments necessary, then continue to paint with joy and passion.
I find that with each painting, I am moving to step 4 a little sooner. This next painting I'm about to start will have the accurate all-over measuring happen right after I finish the sketch, before any paint is applied. SHE CAN BE TAUGHT!
The other day, as I was contemplating my as yet unlaunched painting career, I realized that I'm doing the same thing with my business planning. I am a jump in and go for it person, which is great in a lot of ways. But I tend to skip over the structure that needs to be in place. I need to sketch (working on my skill level, thinking about what I want my website to look like, etc.) and then take the time to do my accurate measuring and get the best structure in place that I can before I start applying paint. I need to slow down and do the boring part of business planning before I jump in and go for it.
Will I sketch out the perfect business plan? Will I never need to adjust and reposition a nose? Definitely not. But I will save myself a lot of time and energy by getting a good, as accurate as possible for me at this point plan on paper. I can review it as I go periodically in order to stay on track and adjust when needed.
Is my creative side calling me a boring party pooper and wanting to get to the fun stuff? Oh heck yeah! But I just ask her how many times she'd like to move that nose and she backs right down!
Anyway, here's some of the things I've been working on, finished and almost finished:
In case you were wondering, everyone's nose was moved multiple times.
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