Day One: Painting from Photo

On a 18"X24" stretched linen, I quickly lay out the painting's composition, off-centering the three figures just slightly to the left so that I may include both hands of the older boy as well as the background garden I envision in the finished piece. I am not too concerned with precise details at this stage, but am maintaining a certain accuracy to the photo, dropping the background some for enhancement.
By the end of my painting day, I have finished the intial sketch and blocked in a wash of color. At this stage I can really start to visualize where I must take this painting to reach it's completion.