Sketch to Masterpiece: The Steps Behind My Process

BEHIND THE CANVAS | WITH PORSCHIA DANIELLE

Each step is intentional and thoughtful, building on the last to bring my vision to life.

Have you ever wondered how a simple idea evolves into a finished piece of art?

While every artist is different, and my process can vary from piece to piece, there are a few key steps I consistently follow to bring almost every artwork to life—from the initial concept to the final masterpiece.

It’s an exciting journey, filled with inspiration, a little experimentation, and careful attention to detail, and I hope you will join me as I share it with you!

Each piece begins its journey with a moment of quiet reflection as I sit in front of a blank canvas, followed by sketches, a loose rendering, and finally, those all-important finishing touches. 

Every step in my process is intentional and thoughtful, each one building on the last to bring my vision to life. Let’s dive into it!

The Inspiration Phase

Before a single drop of paint hits the canvas, it all starts with an idea.

Sometimes it’s sparked by a stunning scene in nature. Other times, it feels more intangible—like a vision that settles in while I’m resting or a vivid image inspired by a song or scripture.

There are moments when I spend several minutes just staring at the canvas, letting the idea take shape in my mind. (Yes, it might look like I’m daydreaming, but trust me—it’s serious work!)

My love for sunsets and autumn colors usually inspires my palette, but my subject matter, can be inspired by just about anything, depending on what’s speaking to my heart that day, though it typically evolves around themes of freedom and identity.

When I first started painting, if an idea came to me in a vision, I would hunt for reference photos to help anchor my imagination. Over the years, I’ve built a treasure trove of images that resonate with me—photos brimming with themes and emotions that feel like home.

On those days when inspiration feels stubbornly out of reach, I sift through my collection until something speaks loud enough to get me back to the easel.

In this new age of innovation, I’ve discovered tools that can bring my ideas to life from just a vivid description. These tools help me generate the reference images that anchor my mind, and have been an incredible way to bridge vision and execution, allowing me to focus more of my energy on the canvas. 

Once an idea feels substantially formed, it’s time to take that vision and bring it to life—starting with the sketching phase.

Scribbles and Sketches

For my abstract pieces, I dive straight into the canvas, letting my intuition take the lead. It’s a fluid process where inspiration and instinct guide every color choice and brushstroke. But when I’m working with a reference photo? That’s a different story—and it starts with scribbles.

Yes, you read that right: scribbles. I grab a pencil and make seemingly aimless marks all over the canvas. This playful mark-making wakes up my creativity and gets my mind warmed up for the task of transposing an image onto the canvas.

After a few minutes of scribbling, I snap a photo of the canvas. Why? Because I use it as a base to digitally layer my reference image over the scribbles. This step helps me find spatial reference points without the rigidity of traditional methods like gridding. Some artists love grids; I prefer scribbles—they’re chaotic, but they work for me!

With my scribbles and reference image aligned digitally, I start sketching directly onto the canvas. Those initial marks serve as guides to scale the sketch properly. I focus on mapping out the main elements from the reference photo, frequently stepping back to make sure the proportions feel just right.

Once the sketch is complete, I take another photo to document the progress. Then, it’s time for the next big step—bringing the piece to life with paint.

Building the Foundation

After finishing a moderately detailed sketch, I shift gears and prepare my paints. This step is a big deal for me—I’m pretty particular about how my palette is set up and layout my paints before any paint tube gets opened.

It’s kind of like organizing your desk (if you’re even moderately organized, that is). Every item has its “home,” and when you’re done using it, you put it back where it belongs. That’s exactly how I treat my palette.

Each color has a designated spot, and I keep my mixing confined to specific areas—it’s my way of maintaining a little order amidst the creative chaos. I also always start with my transparent paints. This is a crucial move, especially when layering important details later in the process.

Once my paints are perfectly arranged, I grab one of my biggest brushes and dive into a foundational step in my process called paint washing. Essentially, this means I dilute my paints with water until they have a watercolor-like consistency. Then, I use this mixture to coat the canvas, aiming to cover about 95% of the white space.

This phase, much like the scribbling stage, is loose and intuitive. It’s also a great way to shake off any lingering intimidation about filling up the canvas—it’s freeing and fun!

That said, I’m careful not to “erase” my sketch beneath the wash. I need those lines intact for the next phase: the blocking and layering stage.

Layering and Adding Depth

This is, without a doubt, my favorite phase—it’s where the painting truly starts to come alive! Using the same paints from my palette, I begin to block out the form of my subject, working from lightest to darkest tones. Essentially, this means sketching in the shapes I see, step by step.

The process starts off fairly loose—not as loose as the washing phase, but still flexible—and becomes more refined with each layer. For every pass, I use a slightly darker, less diluted hue of paint and switch to a slightly smaller brush. This phase takes more time than the first two stages combined, and it often stretches out over several days.

Now, here’s a moment of transparency: I can be a bit of a perfectionist (I’m working on this with my therapist). Sometimes, it’s tough for me to appreciate my work in the moment. Walking away from the canvas gives me a chance to come back with fresh eyes and a renewed appreciation—not only for how far the piece has come from that blank canvas but also for the quality of my own craftsmanship.

As the blocking phase evolves, it naturally transitions into the next—and almost final—step: detailing.

The Detail Phase

The almost-final step in my process is the details phase. And let me tell you, this might just be the trickiest part—how do I know when the painting is done? Don’t worry, we’ll get to that.

I know I’ve entered the detail phase when I start working with opaque paints. Quick mini-lesson: some paints let light pass through, even when undiluted—these are translucent. Others block light completely—those are opaque.

Rarely, if ever, do I use undiluted opaque paint directly on my pieces. Instead, I usually mix an opaque paint with a translucent one to create a softer effect. Oh, and here’s a fun fact: I almost never use pure black anymore. Instead, I mix complementary colors to create a rich, deep hue that reads as “black” when layered with other colors on the canvas.

Similarly, I avoid pure white. Instead, I lighten translucent paints to create highlights, which helps the colors stay harmonious and less stark. Speaking of highlights—they’re the finishing touch to all my paintings. When I break out the white paint (yes, it’s opaque too), I know I’m approaching the home stretch.

The Final Step: My Signature

For me, no painting is complete without a signature. On some of my earlier works, I hesitated to sign them—it felt like signing off on perfection, and honestly, that was intimidating.

Thankfully, I’ve learned there’s no such thing as “perfect” in art—or in life, for that matter. These days, I sometimes make myself sign a painting even if I feel unsure about it. If nothing else, it’s my way of saying to myself, “This is done. It’s time to accept it as it is and move on to the next adventure.”

I actually love this part of the process because it gives me a sense of accomplishment. And, funny enough, a few days later, I often come back to the same painting that I was nitpicking and think, “How, lovely; it’s beautiful!” Amazing how that works.

My signature is personal and symbolic. It’s made up of a “P” and “D” to represent my first and middle names, along with seven sunbursts. The sunbursts reflect my deep love for sunsets—what I believe are nature’s most captivating paintings. The seven sunbursts also remind me of God’s creation: He made the world in six days, rested on the seventh, and so should I.

This signature is my way of weaving my faith into every single piece I create. God gave me this gift, and I’m determined to use it for His glory—even if I’m still figuring out exactly what that looks like.

Reflection and Appreciation

Once I’ve completed a piece, I like to take a moment to admire it in my studio. This pause is an important part of my process—it’s my way of building confidence in my abilities. What was once a blank canvas is now a masterpiece, and that’s something worth celebrating.

This quiet celebration also helps me form a deeper connection with every piece I create. It adds another layer of meaning and accomplishment to my work, making each painting feel even more special.

When I paint, I truly feel like I’m doing what God created me to do. Completing a piece brings me immense joy, but sharing that joy with others? That’s the best part of all.

Encouragement for Readers

If you have a creative outlet—whether you’re an artist or simply enjoy expressing yourself in other ways—I encourage you to embrace your unique creative process. For people like me, creativity isn’t just a pastime; it’s a necessity, even on those days when inspiration feels out of reach. That’s exactly where having a creative process comes in—it can make the journey both productive and surprisingly fun!

Closing

What does your creative outlet and process look like? What inspires you to begin? I’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment or send me an email at pdanielleartwork@gmail.com.

If this post resonates with you, I invite you to explore my portfolio on my website www.pdanielleartwork.com where you can find more of my work.

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Thank you for joining me on this journey—see you in the next post!