Painting Techniques

Know Your Subjects Before You Paint Them

This video describes how to get to know your subjects before you break out the paint. Take time to explore, doodle and sketch you break the ice.

Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist & Art Educator

29 Apr 2024 — 1 min read

Before diving into a painting, take time to know your subject. It’s not about memorizing every detail—it’s about building a connection that makes your work come alive.

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Keep It Simple

Grab some lightweight paper and a stick of compressed charcoal. Instead of setting out to create a masterpiece, fill a page with doodles. Think of it as a sketchbook warm-up, not a finished product.

Focus on Small Features

Don’t try to draw the entire cityscape or landscape at once. Instead, pick out the little things that catch your eye—cars, windows, traffic lights, awnings, the angle of a roofline. Place them anywhere on the page, no rules required.

Discover What Excites You

You might surprise yourself. Maybe you expected to love sketching buildings, but the cars are what really spark your interest. These little “aha moments” show you what subjects you connect with most—and that connection is where your style begins.

Play Your Way Into Style

This approach helps your artistic voice develop naturally. Copying a photo might make something technically correct but often stiff and conservative. Doodling and playing, on the other hand, inject energy into your paintings. That playful energy becomes your style.

Try It Yourself

Choose a cityscape or landscape reference photo.
Fill a few sheets of paper with random doodles of the features that interest you.
Don’t worry about accuracy or composition—just play.
Reflect on which subjects you enjoyed sketching the most.

Key Takeaway

Don’t just paint what you see—paint what excites you. When you take the time to explore your subject first, your paintings feel alive, authentic, and connected to you.