Step by step

I've been working on scenes from Turnbull Wildlife Refuge this week. (This painting is fairly large so you can click on it to see details.)

Big Sky - Turnbull Wildlife Refuge

It occurred to me that you might enjoy seeing a painting develop from the original thumbnail sketch to the finished creation. I've only included a few steps along the way for you to see. As you can see, it is a long process.


Thumbnail: I was drawn to the color of this scene and the way the majority of the sky was not actually in the scene, but rather reflected in the water. I knew that I would have to keep large areas of light in the river area which would also help draw the viewer into the painting.

First wash: Since the sky was the star of the show, I started there, flooding the same colors into the areas that would be the river. I won't worry about the reflections of the reeds until after I've painted them. (I've masked the foreground cat tails/reeds to protect them.)


Second wash: I'm starting to lay in the background. I wanted that clear band of light grass in the distance - again because it draws the viewer back and then around again.


Third wash: Now the reeds/grasses/bushes go in. As I add color, I mirror the color in the water where the reflections will be.



Fourth wash: Details added to help with definition and depth. Details in the reflections are added.



Fifth wash: Time for more detail in the water to give it depth and movement.


The last details are the cat tails and reeds in the immediate foreground.


Finished painting.