Do you plan when you're painting to get the background sorted first or do you make it up as you go along. Or do you leave it to the very end? As a supplement to the Readers Respond page on this subject, I've created a quick poll too. Vote simply by clicking on the answer of your choice below:
Poll: Do You Paint the Background First or Last?
1. First thing I paint
2. Last thing I finish
3. Mostly first
4. Mostly last
5. As I'm painting the rest
6. Something else
Poll: Do You Paint the Background First or Last?
1. First thing I paint
2. Last thing I finish
3. Mostly first
4. Mostly last
5. As I'm painting the rest
6. Something else
Comments
I usually paint the background as I go along. I see how it works with the foreground and mid-ground, and adjust it as I paint. Sometimes it depends on the painting, the subject, the lighting, color, values, composition and other aspects. Sometimes the background is determined by the underpainting, if any, sometimes not. Everything has to fit together so that it works.