Field Sketches

So this is how I start a painting. I go straight into a white primed panel with paint. I need no pre-drawing as I know right where I want to place the subject. It's all 'feel'. This session usually takes about half an hour on a painting of this size  

And this is how it ends up. The composition has been moved around a bit but as you see the cardinal has remained in the same position. Judging from the start on the left it might appear that it's finished very quickly. Not so! I can spend 3or 4 days just in the head and facial area let alone the rest of the painting.

"Cardinal in Winter" 12"x9" acrylic on panel.