This is the first step in my painting process. The preliminary painting study is done to workout the color and lighting before committing to the larger final painting. I usually paint these studies as small as possible (1.5 inch x 2 inches) because it allows me to make quick revisions and try a variety of color and lighting scenarios. I typically spend about an hour on the studies, sometimes less if everything goes well. This step is mainly about color and lighting and not about details. Once I'm happy with the study, I begin to mix up larger batches of the colors to use in the final painting. The study shown here was completed in about 35 minutes.