progress on a new painting

Here is another look at the progress on this painting. It still needs more shadows in the water and under the figures. I will need to add some more contrast around the starfish and female figure to place more focus there. I may also darken the sand along the shore above them. This photo of the painting is quite dark as it was a rainy day. The next post will be the final version of this painting.

I have started a new painting. Still taped to the easel, this is the progress so far. The image is of a little girl and a little boy standing in ankle deep water at the beach. The girl squats down to pick up a blue starfish. The little boy looks on with interest. There won't be much going on in the background. It is all about the children in the foreground and their fascination with discovery. The little girl happens to be my daughter. The boy is a momentary friend she played with at the beach that afternoon.

I have done the underpainting of the children and starfish. Another layer of paint will be added to the figures after I paint the water with reflections and ripples in it. I still need to add the sand and rocks that can be seen through the water. Their shadows will be the last final touch.