Rooster and Red Apple Paintings

Looking forward to 2017, it's the year of the Rooster.  I took a photo of this rooster a couple years ago in Hawaii.  He was a proud guy and I didn't bother him a bit taking his picture. 

He inspired my rooster painting.  I liked painting his feathers and putting him into a sunset setting.  I used lots of water on his feathers and let the colors blend going over the edges just a bit after the first wash dried.  

Since it's apple season, I bought a bag and practiced painting my dark shadows.  I stood up for most of the painting so I could get the view I wanted.  That helped me to be loose and spontaneous painting.  I used lots and lots of layers trying to get shadows and darks where I wanted them.