Part 6—The Hunt for the Perfect Reference Photos

HOLY MOLY! This week I went on a mission to gather every reference photo I thought I might need for Barnyard Adventures. That meant researching scenery, barns, farm equipment, and animals—and yes I even visited my husband's cousin's farm to take many.of the photos myself. I think you're going to enjoy one surprise... a super fun tractor may be making an appearance!

By the time I finished, I had narrowed everything down to 54 different animal reference photos. That may sound a little crazy, but I love having plenty of options before I begin painting, As the composition develops, I'll decide which animals earn a place in the final scene Some will make the cut, and some won't.

If you look closely at the small list in the center of my photo, you'll see I've already started planning how many of each type of animal I hope to include. Of course, that number will change as I continue designing the painting, but it's exciting to begin imagining the finished scene.

One thing you'll notice about all my Search For 10 paintings is the amount of detail, African Animal Sights includes 41 animals, Fish Tank Favorites features 22 different fish; and Rainforest RoundUp contains 35 animals and butterflies. I love filling my artwork with details that children can continue discovering while they wait.

The research is finished. The planning is coming together. Now it's time to start bringing all these ideas to life!