MY PROCESS DANGEROUSLY CREATIVE Part 1

Logan Temple in November
Logan Temple in November

Finding a client, collector, or whatever you call someone who commissions an original oil painting is for a separate blog. I found Sara and Francisco as a result of the Bridal Expo I was a participant in on July 19, 2014.
My 'booth'
This is my simple set-up at the La Caille Bridal Expo on July 19, 2014
My process, how I do what I do, is a question I often get when people view my work. I am a very patient person, and even though I'm dangerously creative, I am trying to develop a method or process that is consistent and duplicatable.
Your style, and my style is like our signature, no matter what process we use, it remains unique. Following a step by step action plan on each painting, consistently is a powerful tool. You might compare it to memorizing the words and tune to a song. During the memorization process, and especially after mastering the music you are then able to give your full attention to the emotional message of the arrangement and put your whole heart into the presentation. Similarly, my creative spirit and my love of experimenting will not be stifled, surprisingly, by following a similar process on each painting. Instead the process opens up new avenues of creative expression.
I am posting photos and instructions illustrating my 'Temple Project'. My goal it to draw and paint every LDS Temple in the world. I'm only 57. At the rate I paint (very slowly), I need to live another 40 productive years. Even though I paint slowly, and often do some art for pure fun, and take a few 'rabbit trails' as my husband would call them, I pray it can be done... (you might refer to my post entitled "The Profitable Artist" Vision Statement http://wp.me/p4K6CV-9)
St. George, Utah LDS Temple
This is the St. George Utah Temple. The drawing is finished, I corrected the skewed perspective, and it is now ready to transfer to the canvas.
Watercolor surface, similar to watercolor paper texture
This is my choice of canvas, this is the purchased 'cradled panel watercolor board' I'm going to use.
Spraying on the sky
You see an 11 x 14 aquabord sitting in my art studio sink. I've sprayed Cobalt blue liquid watercolor and am in the process for watching it dry, hoping that the dreaded blooms will appear in interesting places or not at all.
Sky by Jane in Blues and pinks
This is also a cradled panel, but it is a gessoes board ready to accept Oil Paint. I'm really good at Bob Ross skies...so in case my client wants a more traditional sky I do 2, giving my client a chance to select the one they like.
Artsy Sky
This is the finished watercolor sky. It's a little more artsy than the oil sky. I'm not sure I'm done. I added ultramarine blue over the cobalt. I like the blooming...this type of Watercolor board is very prone to blooms! I think it needs some pinks...
On Sept 11, 2014, I sent images of both skies to my client, Sara. After conferring with her fiancé they selected the Oil Painted background. So here goes.
St George Temple in St. George Utah
I changed my reference photo to black and white in photoshop, this is the underpainting.
The next step is another layer of paint on the entire temple, using the color photo as a reference. The photos I'm using were some I took back in February when my family took a golfing trip to St. George.
Eventually the Bride and Groom will be in the foreground.
My follow-up blog will take you to the finished painting. Watch for it...the painting is to be delivered on November 18.

(Pics from original blog do not post here, so go see it at nilajaneautry.com or nilajaneautry.faso.com)