I don't plan a painting from start to finish before I pick up my brush. Some paintings flow from beginning to end, and other paintings are a battle. Some paintings start off well then go downhill, and others start off badly and then soar. That's just part of the challenge and enjoyment of the working method I use to paint.
I know that if I did a detailed sketch or study beforehand, and started with a detailed tonal underpainting, then I'd not work myself into situations where I've gone in a direction I hadn't intended and have to work myself out. But I don't like doing that, and the price to be paid is that sometimes parts of a painting need to be worked and reworked to get them right.
Which was the case with the foam foreground in this sea painting. I had multiple goes at it, each time not quite getting to where I wanted to be. So I'd reach again for the white, cobalt teal, or Prussian blue and work at it again. Persistence is what it's about.
