ArtBistro

For abstract paintings I generally begin my painting by taking a piece of masonite and priming it with gesso . Than I sand it smooth with an electric vibrating sander. After cleaning all the dust off of it, I decide what my primary color will be for the painting and cover the whole board with a coat of mainly that color. I let it dry then sketch the basic layout of the painting then start painting in layers starting with the background first and building it forward until the piece is complete.If you are doing a non-representational abstract you might want to begin the same way,to insure that the board or canvas is completely covered with paint when completed. Then, you can begin painting and mix your paint on the board or canvas if you like quickly and in one layer. I warn you , however, my methods were developed by trial and error- not from some prestigious art college. Dennis

Like Artknechtion (Dennis), my methods are developed by trial and error. Given that I'm still deep in the trial and error phase, I find that getting started is one of the hardest and yet one of the most rewarding points in a painting. I am now getting over 'ruining' a canvas', 'wasting paint', etc. I remember balking at an artist who once told me, 'nothing on canvas is precious.' I though, 'what?!!!!' Argh - I wanted all my paintings to be precious. Releasing myself from that constraining illusion allows me to just feel through the process rather than be bound by it.

Someone once told me that there are no "mistakes" in art, just creative errors that we can work to our advantage.