Building the canvas
I had always bought pre-made canvas; with the idea of a next painting in mind I went to my favorite art store to find the perfect one. The range of sizes available was huge but I couldn't help this megalomania that always makes me want to make bigger things. I bought pre-made wooden frames and a huge canvas rolls, and the needed tensing grip plus the big stapler, and also collected a few tricks. The next steps are quite straightforward even for a first-timer, except that you need strong hands to keep the linen tense while you stapple. Really strong ones. I think I haven't been able to grab anything for the next 2 weeks, almost.
Another layer of white paint to prepare for oils and the monster was ready. 120x200cm (47x79"). Higher than me! (which was a challenge) and 2.5 times the surface of Below the Rust or Home and Fairies.
Sketching
Right after finishing the digital painting that I submitted in a rush for CGtalk's 'spectacular' context, I barely allowed myself 2 days of repose before I started to sketch the outlines onto the canvas.
First I drew a grid on the canvas, with smaller cells on areas that needed more precision.
I printed out on photo paper a version of the digital painting, and also printed on a transparent plastic sheet the grid to map on top of the print . It really helped for the copying, but for the buildings, I couldn't avoid tracing the vanishing points and perspective lines... except that one vanishing point was supposed to be set on the northern wall of the bathroom, while another was in my bottom neighbor's dining room. Thus lots of hassling measurements were to be done to fix this *slight* issue.
Painting
Of course, having made the same picture once in CG helped me to paint much faster. I didn't have to think about what-color-am-I-going-to-put-where all the time. I have managed to maintain a daily discipline, painting about one hour the morning before going to work, and the evening at least one hour too even when coming back home real late. But generally I was painting each evening insanely late, until terminal exhaustion
I thought it could be boring painting the same image twice, but it's not. The approach of the media is so much different. As I keep saying, there is much more than an image when painting with oils. It's something deep in me, that I really need.
Also, the second version promises to be better than the first. More details, more time to finish it, more thinking, and it's so big that when standing in front of it you get easily swallowed.
Step by step action
I've been taking pictures of the canvas all the way through, and put them together on this slideshow.Currently, I almost done with filling up the canvas with paint, but still there are one million things to paint over or to tweak here and then.
Its wonderful and its a huge inspiration.
What I also like is your eyes :) haha, which has nothing to do with your paintings. I`m in love with your eyes!