Finishing Off The First Layer...

...was a bit like completing a jigsaw puzzle. 

Painting in the negative spaces first helped me to find the lilies shapes, and with that information I could carve out the rest of the painting. 

Now I have had the painting sitting on the top of my easel for over a month, so I can decide where this painting wants to go in the next layer.

Every time...

...I finish a painting, I think, "this could be my best painting yet." I think on this one, it could be true. It measures 13x24", is titled "I've Been to Memphis" and is my 118th landscape painting.

Watching The Grass Grow...

...as this painting nears the end of the painting part.

The Oval Painting...

...is taking shape as the tree line, brush line, and horizon line have all been painted. Now it is time to watch the grass grow. 

Every Once In A While...

...advertisements are right. I really want a new iPhone for the new camera. Here is a three part progress view of the same painting. The top image is the preliminary sketch, the middle image the painting with the first layer complete, while the bottom shows the second layer of paint. Nothing dumbs down color like the combination of a scratched up lens, old sensor, and internet color, but you can take my word that it really looks best in the final layer.

Between Layers of Paint...

...I get to make color adjustments based off the previous layer. Here you can see the colors I used in the first layer on the left, while the new sky colors are on the right:

Mainly, I lightened the highlights and mid-tones, while deepening the sunset hues. I am very happy with the finished sky!

A new long skinny painting...

...is making its way through the process.

My Favorite Step In Painting...

...is sanding down the first layer of paint to commit to the pursuit of perfection in the second layer of paint. It doesn't always, but maybe it will happen with this one.

My Month of August...

...depicted by a pictorial of progress in a painting.

Sometimes I Forget To...

...post to the blog in a timely manner. 

Although this painting is finished and just left the gallery, here are a few progress shots of the first layer. 

Working down the waterfall, you can see that I paint in the highlights and darkest areas first, working in to the middle areas.