The Background
Most painters create a "ground" before a brush ever touches the canvas. This is a good idea because it can save paint (a color has already been deposited on the canvas) and it can also be used to sketch in the subject matter. However, I like to sketch out my subject directly onto a new, white canvas, and paint in my "ground" at the end! Unorthodox, I know, but it works for me. Here, I have splashed in the primary colors of the background, and have decided to make my light source appear in the top left area of the painting. I had decided this early on, but now I need to make sure that every subject in this painting aligns with the light source (i.e. skin, hair, leaves, dress, etc.).