Zed A. Shaw, Painter

First, I just divide this trash cheap panel up into 4 parts for 4 studies. I did put a coat of Joe's Gesso with a bit of black gesso so it would be a gray and easier to paint on.pic.twitter.com/w2sfPgc6GG

Next I need to mix up values of paint to use. This is a binary search algorithm basically. I start with pure white and pure black on either side, then "cut" that in half to get a middle gray. Then, cut again between the middle/white/black to get almost white and almost black.pic.twitter.com/1xe4TXqRKM

Then I use pure black paint (just a tad, a bit, a little) and some water, so it's the consistence of milk on the palette. I use that to draw and paint in some dark shapes. These drawings are good practice, and for beginners you should spend more time than I did on these.pic.twitter.com/s1jrDjqsUw

There is also an alternative tradition (mostly from Russian Impressionists) where you say, "Screw this drawing. Paint is all I need." You then just take the paint and blast it on there using the paint to draw and then you use the paint to fix it and you live in glorious paint.pic.twitter.com/WmZ0jHkgip

But, before you can paint like that you have to practice controlling the paint so that when you let loose it's not always a total disaster. Like Bird says:pic.twitter.com/dADHUarwh6

At this point I'm not really looking at the photo, but instead trying to study what values work best. I decide to make this high contrast, and start with the darkest shape, then the middle shape (sky), then the almost white, and finally white cactus. I learn from this:pic.twitter.com/CipmPEWZQP

I learn from this study that my "almost white" really is almost white, as there's no difference between the white cactus and rocks. Each value should be distinguishable from the other, so I have to make this pile darker and repaint that. Hmmm, ok next study...pic.twitter.com/UG3bfaR9R6