I started work today on the two small panel paintings titled Free Spirits. The panels are very different to paint on and it too me a little while to get my rhythm. They are made by Ampersand and measure 5 x 5 inches (each) with a 3/4″ profile. The surface is slightly textured but when you start painting it feels like its a smooth surface.
Below are the steps I’ve taken so far.
Step 1 - Fill in background
The color I use for the background changes depending on the scene and overall pallette for a painting. In this one I’m just using Mars Black.
Step 2 - Paint under-stones.
These are just the very bottom stones in the painting. Not a lot of detail goes into them.
Step 3 - Continue painting towards the top.
detail
Then I start doing the next level up of pebbles. Sometimes with small paintings like this I will work in a circle, slowly moving upwards.
Step 5 - Start painting top stones.
detail
That’s where I’ve left off for today. Both of these paintings will have bluish-gray stones, but the central stone in each is going to be a surprise. 
Artist, Writer, Mother, Free Spirit
