Value Study Environment Sketch - Quiet Meadows

My final stage is to go over the painting to smooth over the brush strokes, blend tones together, and sharpen detail lines as necessary.

I then go back in to pick my darkest darks and my lightest lights while adding more surface details such as tufts of grass and the reflections of river stones.

I then work those general shapes into more detailed forms, refining the values and beginning to add detail to indicate surface textures.

I start by blocking general shapes and rough estimations of value. I also give the entire surface a light wash of grey so I can cut in my sharpest highlights at the end.