Stage 3
More refinement of distant shoreline, foreground shrubs and introduction of background tree, behind large spruce.
Here detail is started for the focal point of the painting, the cottage and tree. Smaller darks are introduced and entire painting is worked with more oil paint, being careful not to vary composition of light and dark established in Stage 1.
Stage 1
In this first stage I worked carefully to establish the block-in wash of major shapes with color notes and detail, paying attention to placing first darkest dark and a contrasting color note, the orange roof.
All painting is brightened, especially the side of cottage that is receiving direct light, some color in shrubs and clouds are also introduced. Waterline on rocks and rock shadows are deepened along with detail in foreground sand and grass.
It would be nice to have a formula that I followed for every painting but I have never been that lucky. This is an explanation of this particular painting.
Subtle foreground darks and color of sand are added. Shrubs worked more and tree on left behind cottage is darkened. Water is painted showing more detail.