Steps: Enjoying The Morning

Step by step progress for this painting: [link]

This time I didn't start with a usual grayscale sketch, but instead made an initial speed painting based on the complementary color palette which I had in mind. The greatest learning experience with this painting was to realize how soft the brushes I'm using are, and how overly soft the results become. Most of the brush strokes were not visible enough. Using an unsharp mask filter I was able to bring back that detail. Then the effect was slightly reverted in areas the are not near the focal points.