First steps on the page

 Hi Everyone, here is the next stage in the development of the Faerie Glen painting.

The first thing I needed to do is to use a masking material that will allow me to paint over the masked areas and preserve the white paper underneath. Here is the line drawing for review:  

 and here is the watercolour paper all stretched with the grey masking fluid showing up in places with the first layers of colour going down. Below you can see the grey masking material on the irises to the left of the Willow tree and also on much of the foliage in the very center of the page. I had used it to preserve all the ivy leaves on the willow tree but most of those have been peeled away now and I've begin adding the green leaves and buffy-tan stems.

  As you may be able to tell, it doesn't look like much at the beginning. Also, you have to be careful that your darks don't get too dark because they can look muddy in the reproductions when the image gets turned into a puzzle. Stay tuned for the next image as things really begin to get exciting!