For a standalone piece, the physical painting takes about two to three days from gesso to final white highlights. But I rarely paint just one. I work in collections of six to eight pieces at a time, so the total production cycle for a full collection takes about two to four days of intensive painting, plus the upfront sketching, planning, and drying time between layers. It is a marathon, not a sprint.
The truth about “fast” painting
I paint fast. It is one of my favourite things about the Active Void technique. Because I don’t overwork the paint, I move quickly. A single painting can go from blank paper to finished piece in a couple of days.
But here is the thing. The painting time is only half the story.
Before a single drop of paint hits the paper, I spend days in the planning phase. I sketch my ideas. Sometimes on paper. Sometimes on my tablet. I ask myself why this subject matters. What am I actually trying to capture? Does this piece deserve to exist, or is it just taking up space?
If it doesn’t earn its place, I scrap it and start again.
The collection process (where the real time goes)
I don’t paint single pieces in isolation. I paint in collections.
When I sit down to create a collection like Nightlife, I start by prepping six, seven, or eight pieces of A3 paper all at once.
First, I hit the whole batch with two coats of black gesso. Let that dry. Then I apply the base colours I have decided on for each piece, sometimes deep teal, sometimes plum, sometimes a rich ochre. I let all of that dry thoroughly before I even pick up a piece of chalk.
Once the gesso and base layers are fully set, I sketch the entire collection. All seven pieces. Side by side.
This step is critical, and it takes time. I need to make sure they work together as a cohesive group. But I also need to make sure each painting has its own distinct voice. If I sketch them all and one of them feels weak, I adjust it. I push it. I rework the composition until it stands on its own two feet.
If one piece doesn’t hold its own, the whole collection suffers. So I take the time to get it right at the sketch stage.
The 2-to-4 day painting marathon
Once the sketches are locked in, the real work begins.
I paint the first layer of white acrylic onto the first piece. Then I set it aside to dry and move to the second piece. Then the third. By the time I have finished the first layer on the last piece, the first piece is dry enough for layer two.
I repeat this cycle for three or four layers per painting.
I don’t work on one piece until it is finished. I rotate through the collection, letting each one dry while I work on the next. This keeps the style consistent, the energy flowing, and prevents me from overworking any single piece.
The whole collection is usually finished within two to four days of starting the painting phase. By the end of that block, I have a full, cohesive body of work ready to be signed, photographed, and sent out into the world.
What about standalone paintings?
If I am painting a single piece outside of a collection, the process is exactly the same.
I still prep the paper with gesso. I still sketch it out. I still apply three to four layers of white acrylic, letting each one dry before moving to the next. It still takes about two to three days.
The only difference is that I don’t have a stack of paper waiting for me when I finish. And honestly? I kind of miss the buzz of a full collection when I am just doing one.
Why this matters to you
When you buy an original painting from me, you are not buying something that was cranked out in an hour. You are buying a piece that was planned, sketched, refined, and painted over multiple days. You are buying the result of a disciplined, batch-production process that allows me to maintain a consistent quality across every single piece.
You are also buying the result of a whole collection’s worth of energy, even if you only take home one piece.
Free Digital Art Book
See the process for yourself
I have documented the process from sketch to finished piece for the entire Nightlife collection. If you would like to see how the gesso, the chalk, and the layers come together, you can download my free digital Art Book.
Download the Free Art Book
Shop the Collection
Browse the collection
If you are ready to bring a piece of that process into your own space, you can explore the original acrylics and fine-art prints in the shop.
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