a work in progress

I find it interesting to see a work take shape.  I usually begin with some pencil sketches, then a small pastel sketch, sometimes a larger one.  Here is the story of a painting of mountains and flower fields in Skagit Valley, Washington State:

the pastel sketch, 4" x4"

the painting begins in acrylic paint over a canvas I have toned the same color as the pastel paper, 24x36

developing the clouds

and the fields...

Now I switch to oil paint and begin working again on the clouds and the treeline and finally adding some foreground detail

Finished!