Here is the photograph of the original scene.
My thumbnail sketch where I decide on the
composition,
A quick gesture drawing exploring the shapes.
A notan study setting sets the overall light
and dark shapes.
On the canvas, I underpainted the notan,
deleting the frontal darks.
First block-in of color for pasture and woods
in the background.
Painting of the shadow areas of the cows.
Adding the halftone colors of the cows.
Adding the light colors and refining the darks.
The details are added and
the painting is done and titled, "Sautee Herefords"
I never know which is going to be the last brush stroke. I settle into adding accents and highlights, thinking I'm on a roll when suddenly I realize I've made the final brush stroke. It's almost as if the painting yells "Enough!"
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