Working Large: My Techniques for Massive Canvases

When a canvas stretches taller than me, my body becomes part of the mark. I paint standing, crouching, stepping back, lunging forward. It’s performance and meditation combined. Working large forces decisions at scale—gesture must carry across meters. I often block forms with long-handled brushes or mops, then refine with smaller tools. Gravity becomes a collaborator; drips and runs map time. To keep compositions coherent, I step back constantly or photograph stages to check balance. Large canvases breathe differently—they absorb energy and give it back amplified. Collectors sometimes ask how I transport them; the real question is how I contain them. The answer: I don’t. Each one teaches me how to work beyond control.