People often ask me about my technique, which I call Uplifting Naturalism.
It’s a process that blends patience, detail, and a lot of love.
Here’s how “Lucidity” came to life:
- I start by sketching the scene lightly on the canvas with a pencil.
- I prepare the surface with a layer of white gesso.
- Next comes a monochromatic underpainting — I use diluted blue acrylic to map out the light and shadow. This stage creates the value map that will guide the painting.
- Then I move into oils, slowly building up the colors. This is when the magic happens — when shapes and forms emerge and start to breathe.
And there’s something even more important than the steps themselves: you have to love what you do.
Love the subject you’ve chosen. Love the canvas beneath your hands. Love the way the colors mix and transform.
Listen to what your subject is telling you.
When you paint with that kind of love — the kind that makes your heart sing — the outcome can only be beautiful.