Finally got the pencil study done for this one. This 11" x 18" (1/2 scale) study is my opportunity to concentrate on tones and values, not details.
From this point, I'm only worried about color. The laborious details were added with the main outline drawings, and here I've sorted out my tones, so now it's on to color, which will be tackled with a same-size oil study. Once I'm through fussing with that, I'll have the courage to start mixing paint on the full size 22" x 36" painting. Seems like a lot of work, but as the art lovers out there know, masters like John Singer Sargent and Norman Rockwell did
WAY more prep studies than my basic two. I've gotten a lot more patient with experience, but anything more than two studies and I'm itching like crazy to get on the final canvas!