After priming a clean canvas I often sketch in the composition using black gesso, then let it run. This ingredient will inform the surface. I start with a “real” place in mind, and then edit the details with each layer until the result is an impression. Mixing varnish with paint, I apply underlayment of random torn paper. I often use sheet music, poetry, newsprint or tissue forming a mosaic collage pattern knowing this layer will almost certainly be obscured or covered by subsequent layers of paint.
I began using paper under my paint to create stable textured substrata. Once the foundation has cured, I chip, peel and sand off any loose materials. Up to six additional layers of paint will be applied to create an atmospheric or abstract landscape composition using brushes, scrapers, palette knives and feathering tools. Layers may be excavated to expose the underlying surface, adding relevance and depth to the finished piece.