In school I took a class, "quick studies," with Craig Nelson. A quick study is just a painting that you do typically in 30 minutes or less. Doing a fast painting allows you be free with your brush strokes and not too conscious of your color. I started doing these types of paintings recently when my friend Brett Amory told me that before he starts a big painting he will loosen up with a small one. These paintings are 5x5 and pretty fun. You finish quickly and feel accomplished which gets you in the right space to paint something more challenging! I think I will do a bunch more of these.