Back to Design

Letting value and structure take the lead—and finding a little more freedom in the process

Last week was all about design principles. Just like value, I could feel a little resistance at first. I’m a graphic designer, so I know all about design… but as a painter, it’s easy to let that slip.

Coming back to these basics has actually felt a bit freeing. It feels so straightforward that it takes some of the pressure off. Focusing on design and value gives me something clear to hold onto while I’m painting, and that helps me settle in and work with more conviction.

I’m not doing any underpainting right now. I’m just putting the paint down in rough shapes and blocking things in. I almost always start with drawn guidelines, but this approach feels much more engaging.

I’m using my own photos or stock images as reference, choosing ones with strong design, and then adjusting as needed.

One thing I want to keep is a sense of enjoyment in the process—choosing subjects that genuinely make me happy. I feel like I’ve been able to do that. The last two panels I worked on were Maine views, and they really take me back to that spot where I was standing.

It’s been nice working with just Payne’s gray and white, but I’m definitely ready to start bringing some color back in.

We are having a break from class this week, so I’m planning to use it to play a bit—starting to add some limited color into these small studies, while still keeping value and design in mind.

This class feels like a simple reset—and a good place to build from.