I've put together a step-by-step demo of one of the two painting ideas I mentioned last week. It has its origins in a stand of tall trees, and ends up as a painting inspired by landscape rather than a landscape painting. Take a look...

See Also: All my articles on painting trees

^{Image © 2012 Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc.}

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There's always impatient anticipation waiting for a new model to turn up at a life-painting session. What will they be like? What type of poses will they propose? Pencils out, paper ready...

See Also:
• Tips on Working with Life Models
• Quotes From Artists On Their Models
• What Makes a Life Model a Good One?

^{Image: © Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc}

What's going on there is that it's a seascape being painted on a red colored ground. I've been wiping excess paint from the brush in the "sea area" as I've painted the sky. I do this instead of wiping it on a cloth or piece of paper towel to avoid wasting it. I'll ultimately want blue in the sea, so why not use this now already, even though I'm focusing on the sky?

Be sure that the mark making is relevant to whatever will ultimately be painted in that area though, otherwise you'll end up fighting against it. Another option is to wipe your brush on a blank canvas, to create a colored ground on that.

See Also:
• What is Meant by Mark Making in a Painting
• Advantages of Painting on a Colored Ground Rather Than White

^{Image © 2012 Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc.}