The Fear

Beginning a new painting can sometimes be a nerve-wracking ordeal. It's much like jumping into a pool of cool water on a hot day; the will is there, but the dread of the initial shock paralyses you into inaction. Ridiculous I know, but I am not alone in this. An old work colleague of mine used to refer to it as, "The Fear".

After a few false starts, I have taken the plunge and am painting a new market scene from Riobamba. It's full of detail so may take some time to complete, but so far so good. Rather than painting a panoramic view I have decided instead
on a fairly large square canvas (36"x36"). By limiting the view, you get a sense of being there yourself, jostling against the other people. The picture also has some strong verticals which gives the picture depth. It will be interesting to see how it turns out. In the meantime, here are a few details from the initial sketch.

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Stephan Fullagar - The Paint Brush Diaries