Normally I begin a painting by beginning a painting!  I lightly outline key shapes, block in the background, then add darks, followed by some defining of shapes and continue by adding layers of light and shade, with details being added last and fixing any errors in scale or composition as I go. For my next painting I am completing a series of preliminary drawings before I even begin to set up the canvas.  I want to enlarge the foreground figure and so I want the details to be more defined and therefore more precise.  I will focus on particular details such as the hands before i map out the composition on the canvas.  I intend, also, to make some thumbnail sketches so that I can choose which scale of composition I prefer.  So, I will be less spontaneous at the beginning but once into painting I want to regain freedom and emotion.