First, thank you very much for the $20 it is much appreciated and very kind. Second: It is going from the general to the small. In fact, I would argue, it is the ONLY way it can be done. It is very hard to work backwards. Take a small leaf for example. You have to create the shape, then you create the veins, then you create the highlights and then finish off with details and the more you add detail the closer it can become to realism. Try doing that in reverse. Now take a landscape. You have to create an overall shape. You put a mountain here, the tree there, the cloud here etc. You end up, at a first pass, with a general shape then you begin to refine it to suit your own vision of the landscape. Two reasons to begin with darks: first it helps you to see the overall shape much more quickly, you can put the shadows in and create a "posturized" effect. The second is it is a reference for your tones. It allows your eye to see where the darkest dark is within the landscape and you can better judge against that tone. So yes it is classical... and also...modern. Simply because it is the easiest and quickest way to create an overall vision of what you want to say. I hope that answers your question. If you need anything clarified please feel free to ask.

@ Allen! Many thanks for taking the time to answer my question-it makes sense the way you explained it-I will try some experimenting on Fredrix canvas sheets before taking it to panel or canvas-I’m very grateful for your time and comments-now that I’m retired my wife said I needed another endeavor. Besides golf and gardening I’ve definitely found it-it’s a total rabbit hole! You’ve certainly help clarify things! K

You're very welcome Karl. I think you'll find this hole to be incredibly deep and, I have certainly found it to be the most rewarding thing I have ever done. And also the most frustrating. Practice on the cheapest material you can find. I found full sheets of mdf 8 feet by 4 feet cut down to 10 inches by 8 inches.... painted with house paint to work out at about 30 pence (40 cents) a 10x8 inch panel. Keep them stored for future reference of how far you have come and I promise with consistent practice you will utterly amaze yourself in a years time how far you will have come. You just won't see it while you're doing it. Anyway...all the best.

For clarification, when I say painted with house paint...i mean just cover it in a white acrylic house paint and then apply you oil paints on top. And these are only for practice. For something you wish to keep, swap the house paint for gesso.

@@allendixon Allen! Thanks! I happen to have a few liters of white acrylic! It’s indoor grade because we painted 2 bathrooms-should do!! Many Thanks!!

it is totally not watch the video over and over and you will get the jist of it trust the process and follow step by step ! ive only been painting for less the. a year and took on a few of his paintings and they came out gorgeous all have been stolen from my wall ! happy painting :)

@ you’ve given me encouragement! 😊Will definitely give it a try.

@@JaneDoe-nl1xw have fun :)