Spring is near

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

■ How to plan a painting with sketches

■ Never be afraid of a blank canvas again

■ Use harmonious colours to create a fresh, modern effect

While I am a huge advocate of the benefits of giving in to the impulse to throw paint at a canvas and enjoy the creative experience, I also think there is an argument for taking your time and planning a piece of work in advance. Both are valid, if opposing, approaches, and both bring their own rewards, depending on your mood. For this acrylic painting of daffodils, I chose a carefully planned approach then threw in random colour mixes at the end, just for fun. Planning enables the artist to develop a harmonious balance in the finished artwork right from the initial draft sketches, and allows the development of depth through sequential layers of paint.

Planning doesn’t stop you from switching things up later, once you are certain where your painting is going, to create a distinctively different feel to your work.

Harmonious balance

Balance in a piece