Thank you Bart. Yes, it's a treat looking at thumbnails and then looking at the larger piece. It amazes me how so little can look like so much. I could use a lot less detail but I have decided to let myself paint without any restrictions on how it should be. Just paint it like I feel the painting is directing me.
Mostly about value these days. I do a block in of 4 to 5 values and then I add the color over the blockin. I like to use a blockin color related to one of the colors used in the painting so everything meshes together. If I get my values I don't have to be precise in color as long as I am close it will work. I may have to adjust within a value as my values are simply large vague shapes. I know you didn't ask for all that info but it could help someone who reads the thread and is looking for a few hints at how things get recognized. Of course laying oil over oil is simply a matter of thick over thin.