I've developed a specific approach to the early stages of a painting that I want to document because it consistently prevents the problems that used to derail my work.

Step one: compositional thumbnail. Thirty seconds to two minutes, very small (2-3 inches), just value masses. I'm only asking 'is the large shape distribution interesting.' If no, try another thumbnail. I do three to five before committing.

Step two: light logic note. I write down the light source, time of day, and ambient light condition. This takes thirty seconds. The note is visible while I paint.

Step three: color temperature note. Based on the light logic, I write: light warm/cool, shadow cool/warm. This is the single most valuable thing I do before painting.

Step four: blocking pass. Large shapes at low opacity with a single soft brush. No details, no edges. Just color areas filling the composition from the thumbnail.

These four steps together take fifteen minutes on a typical piece. They prevent ninety percent of the late-stage problems I used to encounter — wrong composition discovered after hours of work, confused light logic, muddy colors from inconsistent temperature decisions.