I usually work in a freer, more expressionist way, but this time I planned the background carefully for this new painting. I don't know if it will end up being a good idea or not. Sometimes when I'm working too carefully, I get uptight and even depressed about it. Maybe that's why my favorite way to work is in an abstract expresisonist or "action painting" mode where I'm not overthinking what I'm doing.
Nevertheless, here I am with this canvas. First, I drew circles in each "box," beginning in the upper center with Indian yellow, then raw sienna, burnt sienna, and raw umber. After drawing the lines in paint, I used a small brush to flatten and widen the outline.
After the painted circles dried, I drew angular lines in raw umber. Now the whole thing has to dry before I can take the next step.
My goal is to set up a background that will enhance the final stages of the painting, a form to work against and play with. We'll see.
