Creating a commission, step-by-step

A recent commission. The customer wanted to feature a bit of the courthouse square, change the season so the weeping cherry tree was in blossom, and tidy up the flowers. It’s still in my style but I didn’t mind making these adjustments. Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 36.

This page shows the actual steps that I used to create the commission featured in my post of October 3, 2021. The painting is medium size, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 36. I met with the client twice before I began the work. The first was to get an idea of what he wanted, the second time was to discuss the options and review the sketches that I had worked up.

These are a few of the black, grey and white sketches that I presented to the client before I began the work. I also did a quick color sketch, just on canvas paper with some ink detailing to give him a better idea of what it would look like.

  • Sketches, 1. These are simple sketches just to get an idea of which angle to choose and to familiarize myself with the scene.
  • More black, white and grey sketches.
A larger sketch of the angle that I finally selected. I use these sketches to discuss the project with the customer before I begin the larger painting.
Color sketch. This is a quick color sketch with some pen and ink details. We decided that that big tree in the center really cuts the picture in half. Also, the client decided that he wanted to feature the cherry tree in blossom so the painting became a spring painting.

These are just the steps as I completed them.

Step 1, commission. Painted on a toned canvas, I outlined the main objects in the painting with random colors, usually bright. If you look closely, you can see that I actually did a pencil sketch on the canvas first. Most of these colorful outlines will eventually be covered but they add a bit of pizzazz where they do peek through.
Step 2. Here you can see that I have begun to block in the main shapes starting with the darks.
Step 3, more blocking in colors. I later went back and adjusted several of these colors.
Step 4, blocking in the trees, vegetation, and the sidewalks. It’s actually starting to look like something.
Step 5. Now adding the streets and some details, especially in the background.
Step 6. Adding the sky and clouds really makes the rest of the scene stand out. More details in the background and adjustments to the colors of the buildings to come.

The final painting is below. I wanted to lighten up the clouds but didn’t want them to become a distraction from the main subject of the painting. You’ll notice that I lightened the buildings and added more detail to the foreground and the courthouse in the background. When working in an impressionistic style, it’s my aim to capture the feel of the scene without becoming bogged down in every little detail. The viewer’s eye actually fills in a lot. You can also see where my initial colorful outlines peek through in a place or two.

A recent commission. The customer wanted to feature a bit of the courthouse square, change the season so the weeping cherry tree was in blossom, and tidy up the flowers. It’s still in my style but I didn’t mind making these adjustments. Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 36.