Different approach in comparison to my current painting process , underpainting and glazing then will add opec colors . When painting more realistically I prefer this method. Definitely took some inspiration from this painting method to incorporate into my own painting process that involves a bright undertone with an underpainting and gold leaf

I’m working on an oil portrait of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) from The Godfather. It’s still in the blocking-in stage, with a burnt sienna underpainting on 8"x10" sketchbook paper primed with acrylic gesso. My question is—how do you keep from slipping into too much detail at this stage? I find myself wanting to refine early, but I know blocking is supposed to stay broad. My goal for this one is to make it monochromatic so I can also use it for a value study.

After reading your post about whether to keep going on a painting, I decided to keep working on this one. Charcoal feels easier to control, but I’m learning how brushwork changes with different surfaces—I’ve read Kevin MacPherson mentioned how gesso board and canvas respond differently. I use acrylic gesso-primed sketchbook paper for practice, and while I was ready to call this finished, giving it a day or two made me want to keep going.

@Edwin Caniete asked an important question that you may also be asking . Here’s a decision framework you can run through whenever you’re unsure whether to finish a painting or stop at a study. CHECKLIST 1. Goal Achieved? Did I learn what I set out to practice? ✅ Yes → consider leaving it as a study. ❌ Not yet → keep working. 2. Energy Check Does the painting still feel alive and exciting? ✅ Yes → push it further. ❌ No, it feels forced/dull → it may be best as a study. 3. Structural Soundness Are the big shapes, values, and proportions solid? ✅ Yes → you can refine with confidence. ❌ No → decide if fixing it will teach you more, or if restarting would be faster. 4. Emotional Connection Do I want to live with this image finished? ✅ Yes → finish. ❌ No → call it a study and move on guilt-free. 5. Time vs. Return Will finishing this teach me more than starting a fresh canvas? ✅ Yes → finish. ❌ No → stop and start something new. 6. Portfolio Potential Does this piece have qualities (composition, mood, likeness) that could stand alongside my best work? ✅ Yes → finish. ❌ No → study. 👉 Over time, you’ll notice your “Yes” and “No” answers shift as your skills grow. What you leave unfinished today might be what you’d polish tomorrow.

This is 1 of the 7 paintings I am currently working on . Dimensions 36 x 48 in . Acrylic , gold leaf and oil paint. Title “ Field of Dreams”. In this body of work I am using old family photographs , this one is of my father working the fields in Mexico before leaving it all behind to come to the United States to chase the American Dream . I added the monarch butterfly which also make a great migrating from mexico to the US . What artworks or series are you working on ? Any themes or techniques you want to share ?