Birch Trees in Progress

I wanted to show one of my paintings in progress (36" x 18"). The orangish under-painting serves two purposes. First, it gives the background a more tonally neutral color (white can be too bright)against which I gage all the image colors I will be using and two, as orange is opposite of blue on the color wheel (a complimentary color relationship), this will add a bit of warmth and depth even though the viewer may not actually see the orange when the painting is finished. The sketches for this particular painting of winter birch trees were completed this past winter. Sometimes I prefer to mull over a scene in my mind for a few months before beginning a painting. I find this sometimes allows me to be somewhat more creative with color, though prefer to work outside directly from nature.

I will post the finished piece soon.