Using a three-value sketch to resolve compositional issues before you begin

[Chris Saper]

Now that I have determined the size and shape of the components of the painting, it's very easy to just begin placing the figures on the canvas. I've placed a mark in the center of the canvas to correspond to the center of the thumnail; this is the easiest way for me to ensure that I can preserve the negative spaces I have aleady spent a lot of time determining.

Here, I've toned the canvas with Terre Verte, and begin to draw with my brush, also in Terre Verte. I don't need to start by blocking in values at this point, because I already know where they will be, and what they will be.