To tell a story you need several elements:

1. A character or characters
2. A "plot"
3. A setting
4. A mood

The Character(s)
I generally start my paintings with actual people. Either I have a model in front of me or I use reference drawings from my sketchbook. I have found it extremely useful to keep a sketchbook with me at all times for capturing the features, expressions and gestures of people in public. Often the situation I am sketching will be enough to inspire a whole painting; at other times I look for interesting people and put them together in a narrative way.

For instance, I might start with one woman standing with a wineglass in her hand. Then, if I add two or more characters also holding wine glasses, I suddenly have a party.

In developing each character, I must consider facial expression, gesture or body language, placement in relationship to other characters, costumes and props. Each of these elements will tell something important about who the character is./p>

I decide early if they are young or old, beautiful or frumpy. If I want them friendly, I place them close together. If I want them happy, I give them big smiles. If I want them snooty, I stick their noses up in the air.

The Plot
Basically the plot is what the characters are doing. Say I have combined four standing figures. If I want my characters to be gossiping, I will place them close together and have them leaning toward each other. If I want them gossiping about someone else, I can have them all looking in the same direction out of the picture. If I want three of them to be close friends and one to be an outsider, I will put three close together and leave some open space between them and the solo figure.

The Setting
Where is my party taking place? If it's an art gallery, I put some pictures on the wall. If it's a living room, I add living room furniture like a sofa, an easy chair, some end tables with flowers, windows and curtains. For a more public event, I can add a crowd of smaller, abstract figures.

The Mood
Finally, I have to consider mood. Is it a happy occasion? Then I will probably make the painting bright and colorful. If I want it more dramatic, I can add light and shadows from a single light source. If I want it mysterious, I use dark colors with bright areas only for the faces and accents.

By the time I have finished the painting, I want to know, and show, who these people are, what they are doing, where they are doing it and how they feel about it. That way the painting brings life and vitality to any room where it's hanging.