How long does it take to create a painting?

How long does it take to create a painting? This has to be one of the most common things I get asked as an artist.  The answer is 6.75hours..... just kidding. I don't know!! Every painting has its own story and its own flow. There are days in the studio when everything just goes perfectly. The energy is great, the music is perfect, my mood is elevated and everything just aligns. On those days, I can create a painting in a matter of hours.

But then there are other days, when you wake up and know that it's not going to be a good day, when doubt might creep in, where the paint just doesn't want to do as it's told, and when I can't get into the moment.  On those days it might take me much longer to work a painting. Sometimes a painting can sit in my studio for weeks until finally everything gels and all of a sudden it looks exactly the way it's supposed to look.

Painting can be unpredictable, and my moods and energy definitely affect the way things go in the studio. Painting is very emotionally driven for me and I have to allow myself to go with the flow of the day. So here, for your viewing pleasure, is a time lapse of the first stage of a new commission. This is just step 1, with at least 3-4 more stages to go. And I can confirm that today was a good painting day!