Moving right along... Now a days work - and part of yesterday (I really didn't get much time to work yesterday - we had errands to run, and game night. I know, excuses...)... The trick with the temple was to get both the effects of atmospheric perspective (blue-grey on the far end of the building, transitioning to a bolder grey closer to the viewer), and the effects of things which are wet... (the stairs are getting wet from the rain, but not much of the temple is. Wet surfaces are very reflective.. and so they reflect what they are facing. The vertical planes of the stairs face the sky moreso than the horizontal planes, which will be reflecting some of the window-light. Those windows were really a pain. I didnt use any masking - just a lot of nose-to-the-paper, and keeping my hand very steady. They still aren't perfect, but I gave it a good try.

Seven hours of painting this today, and I think its time for a break. If I crack down, I will probably have the whole background 'done' (not exactly done... as I never proclaim an area finished until I see the entire piece colored, and decide whether the colors match up or if something is missing somewhere. And right now, a lot is missing. Not to mention raindrops.) I like the orange light. It looks both warm and somehow sinister. Backlighting the foo dogs will enhance that effect ^.^

You know what I haven't figured out? And I certainly havent done it in this image - depth of focus blurring. I'd really like to be able to do that with traditional media. It totally helps to make an image photographic, or cinematic.... and I've gotta say, my attention to detail is a real handicap in that department.