This painting will begin with a simple background of various Blue hues.
I continue by adding the impression of distant fall-like foliage.
Brown, Orange and Yellow hues are used in this step.
The addition of some closer trees has also begun.
Continuing and for the most part finishing the background with some small details and highlights to the water and foliage. Adding foreground trees and reflections is now my priority.
The main characters for this piece are now blocked in using Ivory Black.
The distant Ducks are blocked in using various browns as was used in the background foliage.
The customer also requested some additional figures to be placed somewhere in the background; fishing and with a fish on their line. The request came in a little late, but it's not an impossible task to accomplish at this stage in the game.
After the the initial Black used for blocking in the Duck shapes had completely dried, I continued by sketching in their feathers and other features. and began adding color to them.
Here you see the resulting finished work.