Under-painting "sneak peek"

Crazy and bold under-painting 24x24"

Nobody ever really gets to see the first stages of my work and so I thought I'd share a sneak peek into my work process. When I start out a pastel piece, I gravitate to the extreme compliments of the intended final colors. I know, you are probably thinking it looks like a throwback to the 60's. Can you hear "Yellow Submarine" playing in the background? Yeah right... but I degress. 

It reminds me of a conversation I had while painting on location at the Plein Air Convention earlier this year with a very famous artist (no name to protect the innocent).  Just as I was finishing up my LOUD under-painting, he approached my easel and conferred that I "Should really consider a better color....something like Burnt Sienna or Earth Red."  Honestly, I think he was right in his own mind, but I LOVE color.  It's really crazy of me to put such harsh pigment under a piece, but for some reason I do and humbly, the painting seems to turn out. Now, as I was working on this one tonight, it was singing to me in perfect harmony. I could see the influences of my oil painting escapades coming through onto the pastel paper.  Bold strokes. Loose marks with confidence.  I'm having fun. I hear music on my panel and I am happy. Can you imagine this one done?