Painting 'Toledo'

The original photo blown up on my computer screen.

 I zeroed in on a portion that interested me - created a good composition, formatted to a square and removed the 'unwanteds', like the clouds, some trees, etc.  Sometimes I add a guide line

down and across the middle to help me get started with proportions, 

especially when there's a building involved.

 So I have my square panel, already painted with a black ground and ready to go.

I draw the two guidelines and do a quick sketch, nothing detailed, with a light grey pencil.

 With the basic lines in place and the photo beside my tabletop easel, I'm ready to paint.

 I use a pizza pan for my palette - this is what a couple of days of painting looks like.

I generally start on the left side and work to the right to keep it clean.

And I just begin filling in with areas of color.

 I went back to the side of the house and felt out what the horizontal lines of the siding 

would look like, just curious I guess.

After working with the front, I changed my mind on the lines.  I wanted this to stay loose.

I worked my way thru the windows and tried very hard not to nit-pick with details,

just play with color and light.

I thought to add that little shrub at first....

Then nixed the shrub to accent the simple lines.  I liked that better.

Proceeding with the grass and tree then going back in all the areas with

adjustments to values, color, etc.

Last was the blue sky.  The color of the blue was chosen based on the rest of the

choices I made.   And ....  done.