Above is the sketch. I have used mixed media to make sure I have worked out all of my
issues with the painting. This took several iterations and a trip to an Elk ranch (click here
to see some photos I took of Elk at the ranch) to get this painting to where it is now.

Above is the first session for the painting.

Above is the second session. As you can tell I always render everything in pencil
before painting.
Above is the Third session. I have 2 more Elk to render then I can start to paint. For now
I am off to LA to see family. Hopefully the first week of 2007 the Pencils will be done.
This is now the fourth session and the Elk are done. Next will be the background
Above is the Fifth and final session. The mountains will not be rendered. I leave
the backgrounds in my paintings as line art. I do this only for the backgrounds because
I know there will be happy accidents that will happen to the mountains while painting. I
look forward to them!
This has been probably the most difficult stage of the painting so far.
This has been a different experience painting the mountains, going back and forth with a palette knife and a brush.
Closeup of mountain
As I said in the last posting, this has been the hardest part. As you can see I started the
mountains over, I had to. They were not coming out right. I was trying to find the energy
in the mountain, I think I have now. I did not use a palette knife, It is all brush.
Finally coming down from the mountains.
Painting as of April 28th
Close up of background Elk
Close up of Mamma and the babie Elk
It's DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click here to view the last painting