Richard Schmid reveals the secrets of his selective method of painting and demonstrates a still life in oils

Richard Schmid

Pansies, oil on canvas, 12 × 24in (30.5 × 61cm).

The selective start is a method of painting evolved as my painting skills developed. It is about going from the parts to the whole. I call it selective because typically I select a small part of my subject, finish it, select the adjoining part, finish that, and so on. I know it sounds a little nuts, but with the right subject and circumstances, it works. It made sense that if I could see colours and shapes well enough to correct them, I could also get it right first time and thus eliminate the almost-right stage! All I had to do was be very exacting about how I looked at my subject and then equally fastidious and patient about what went onto my canvas. And I must have a very clear image in my mind, a sort of conceptual block-in, to guide my steps.

So whenever it is possible (and many times it is not) I try to paint each little shape on my subject as carefully as I can from the start. I do it in as finished a way as possible and I use each correct colour shape to guide me in painting all adjoining shapes. I build my picture in this way, from a single accurate point, painting outward from the centre until I have the painting I want before me. Afterwards, it is a matter of pulling the whole thing together, softening edges here and there, scrutinizing for drawing errors, eliminating unnecessary value changes and checking the overall design for simplicity – then I’m done.