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Getting this whittled down to finally finish.  Still have a left bottom section that needs to be fine tuned, more highlights, need to do some research on really how bright do they need to be, on the left side mountains and then need to add in the scrubby looking bushes that dot the plateaus.  Then voila, it will be done.  Am going to set it aside to see if I need to adjust more shadows in the mountains, think I do on the last mountain I put in, but might be able to darken it by just doing washes. Going to be a busy week next week, and want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving in the States.  We get to eat plenty of turkey and stuffing - tough day for us all  :) Thanks for stopping by and hope you have have a great painting week.

While I am still working on the Grand Canyon I am doing these ATCs. they are so much fun and because of the small size, 2.5"x 3.5" they go quickly and give you the ability to work on different papers and with different styles. The sunflower is because Renate got me thinking about them, her picture was so fresh and sunny that it made me want to put some lights into a dreary day.  The little bull dog makes me think of Christmas - wouldn't it be wonderful to open your mail box and get that bundle of joy (and other things). Thanks for stopping by and have a great painting week.

Well here is my fun and colorful 5"x7" cone flowers.  This is acrylic on a canvas paper and it did allow for the acrylic paint to slide around a bit on the coating.  Have made the rest of the sheet into ATC sized cards so I can continue to experiment on it.  Loved the bright pinks and played with twisting the brush, double loading and floating. For you that do watercolor all the time am sure you do these naturally.  So I am enjoying this pop of color in my frame by the computer on this rainy day.  Thinking about trying some sunflowers, Renate, you got me started to add more sunshine and less drizzle to the last three days.  Thanks for stopping by and hope you have a great painting week.

Well put some hours into this over the weekend and here is where I stand today, it isn't getting faster for me unfortunately.  I had to take a day away so reviewed some Youtube tutorials on acrylics and started the cone flowers below.  I will try get back on the Grand Canyon tomorrow.  First off, I want to thank all of you who have left me a comment, it truly helps so much.  The more I live with a picture I have a tendency to lose my objectivity and because it's not coming down the way I wish I get too critical.  Know this is really detailed, and wish I could get looser but always seem to end up not leaving much to anyone's imagination.  Well, maybe next picture I can edit out and get the effect, not the details.  I pretty much have a plan in place now on how to finish this and hoping that by end of week I will pretty much be there.   Like I said I thought I needed to do something else for a break from rocks and really like cone flowers....

Here is an update on my Grand Canyon - we are battling it out.  It is taking so much time because I keep redoing it to try to get what I see onto the paper.  Still much to go, but I am getting happier and think I am finally developing a technique to do these stratas of different colors.  It will and has required that I redo some of the other plateaus though.  I realize even in shadows I need to put color to reflect the truly uniqueness of this wonder of the world.  So far am getting much better at mixing colors as I have kept a limited palette, am employing and using a painting knife, and learning to be more confident with a larger brush and the softer stokes you get, and learning that what's sweet about acrylics is that you can glaze. 

Well am back working on the Grand Canyon which is acrylic on paper and for me is a pretty large piece, 16x23.   It is pretty slow and tedious and I realized I really am doing the same thing over and over so am trying to use some larger brushes. However, I need to stay within the tightness of the original painting, hope some painting later to get looser.  Am getting to some ridges now where it is smoother rock and will have the final ridge come in cutting across the front, the pine tree and then the ledge we are standing on overlooking the canyon floor.  When I successfully complete this (how is that for positive thinking) I have some additional photos I am going to try.  The majesty of this place, the awesome large expanse of just rock and ridges that go on for 30-40 miles, nothing can really do it justice I think.  Am looking at the planes and will probably adjust the big mountain in the middle for more shadows.  I am working from multiple photos so...