how do you start a painting?

[Success]

How do you usually start a painting? What is your first step?

[sodinedia]

To start a painting....first you have to

sketch, sketch sketch!!!

figure out your composition; when painting people, figure out the position of body/face.
Then when your happy, make a rough sketch on the canvas.
Apply your wash/block in the major areas with base color.
Work in the major lines/shadows and highlights.
After that it's just layering your paint to achieve the shapes/colors/shadows/hightlights/lines.