Momento Mori

The process

From first sketch to finished painting.

1. First post · November 19, 2025

   

   Canvas prep! Stretching and toning complete. Finally time to paint. This will be my largest painting to date. 36 x 40 in.

2. Stage 2 · November 20, 2025

   

   I don't usually start with charcoal, but given the scale of this painting, I wanted to make sure I placed the figure correctly in the composition before starting my block in with paint.

3. Stage 3 · November 25, 2025

   

   My favorite part of the painting process, the block in. No expectations set, just slinging paint and building form.

4. Stage 4 · December 12, 2025

   

   Chipping away at the portrait in my first painting. Picking up tricks from Emma and Daniel and premixing my skin tones. A technique I have disliked in the past but it is growing on me. Especially now that I am working at a larger scale. For the next week I will keep adding layers of paint, correcting the drawing, and perfecting the transitions and edges within the forms.

5. Stage 5 · January 4, 2026

   

   Moving on to the next stage of my Momento Mori painting. Setting up a Still Life scene and blocking it in. I am looking forward to the challenges of painting these old 18th century books I found in a local bookstore around the corner from the studio.

6. Stage 6 · January 8, 2026

   

   Detail shots. At this stage everything is still a semi-rough block in. I have been spending more time on the portrait of the older man. I want to make sure he has the most contrast and detail in the painting. Once I am content with him, I can move back into the still life and background and bring it up to the same level or keep it more loose. I do not want the still life to steal attention or focus from the man.

7. Stage 7 · January 21, 2026

   

   The portrait is coming together nicely. Now that it is close it is time to move on and work out the Jacket, Watch and Hand. Then back to the still life. Painting is a slow but rewarding process.

8. Stage 8 · January 29, 2026

   

   This is my first time painting tattoos on skin. I have a plan but it is a bit of an experiment. My aim was to block in the skin and form first, then glaze the tattoos over the skin later in the process. I am happy with how it turned out but it still looks too fresh. I will continue to paint into the designs and skin with both glazes and direct paint to create a more natural feel that also matches the paint quality and style of the painting in whole.

9. Stage 9 · March 23, 2026

   

   After a long break working on the horseman ideation, I am jumping back into the Momento Mori painting to finish it up. Here is my second pass on the hand. Ring needs adjustment but other than that I am very content.

10. Stage 10 · March 23, 2026

    

    The most difficult section of this painting has been these legs. I have been pushing and pulling the lights and darks with several glazes and half-pastes to better show the form as well as pushing them back into space to not draw as much attention. My model only had tattoos on the front leg so I started playing experimenting adding tattoo designs on the other leg. It is surprisingly difficult to design a tattoo that matches the theme and style of the others.

11. Latest · March 23, 2026

    

    One of my favorite parts of painting, rendering a still life. Listening to an audio book and plugging away for countless hours modeling the light, form, and subtle variations within the patinas and textures of the objects. Maybe 75-85% complete on this section. I want to make sure the rendering compliments the rendering of the portrait. A fun challenge worth the effort.