Here are Craig and Chunky after a winning performance. Sarah sent this shot to give me an idea of the Midwestern landscape that we’ll put in the background.
I got so excited about starting to paint today I forgot to take some step-by-step pictures while I was working on the sky. OPPPSSSSS! The sun pours into the piece from the left so the blue of the sky on that side is White + Pthalo Blue. Moving further to the right the blue, made of White + Cobalt Blue, is just a little darker. The clouds are soft mixes of White + Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue and White + MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson). They are painted wet-into-wet over the blue, which makes them soft and fluffy. Then I begin blocking in the trees and distant landscape with mixes in various proportions of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + a touch of MUD + White.
The hard edge where land meets sky is softened by dragging it with a clean brush. This makes the horizon line fall way back into the distance. You can click on the picture to see it larger.
I placed a grouping of dark trees behind Craig to accentuate his creamy white Stetson. My wrist is resting on my mahl stick, stabilizing my hand as I paint. What is a mahl stick? CLICK HERE to find out.
The background is complete. Notice the taller trees on the far right. Their dark, upright shape stops the sunlight, streaming into the scene from the left, from taking your gaze out of the painting. When we are totally finished they, along with the fence post and steer in the foreground will direct your eye back to the focal point, the action of Craig and Starlight Merada! Hugs,
Mikki Senkarik 
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