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I noticed Deladier Almeida created a fully developed (though smaller) oil study for his terrific portrait of Max Mack. I imagine having all the issues worked out in the study beforehand allowed him to keep such energy and fresh brushwork in the finished piece.
My prep work has increased exponentially in the two years I've been working as a portrait artist. Most of it is done digitally, though. (Thank you, Photoshop!) I'm learning that my paintings succeed or fail based on the decisions I make long before I touch brush to canvas.
I do the following things electronically: plan poses, work out the composition, adjust values, decide cropping, print different color possibilities, etc. I also print out reference at the size it will be in the painting.
I read an interesting quote the other day from movie critic Roger Ebert. He said, when making movies, that quick execution is only possible with careful preparation. I think the same thing applies to just about all creative endeavors.
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