![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43mYKr8rAgqMsP_-jl4OpY-7SsNehiE5ELgOlSr1646X_87Oplx7QEUv9FXw3oY9FvPF2_Vg4qrV-xFKFpf5EP29Gu3Hm3MWpggJ9OkHopJEyZY7ZsoVxZxBEcGcoeNfWqL29Toc-hFNe/s320/PRELUDE_TO_POLLENATION.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mmPKXJEjI93q0c_qcYfq6Bd3bqJy06YLW02_UK-ySX_6pxd3GnkfMduoU4MYlzl1qxGMMw7AXEzewCa8uSysIZYyNxYLe9N3Tugtf_t9km03T95w0BvK2WGj9AquxHnIzCrLIF6Pb2sx/s320/venusiansketch.jpg)
It was thus time to begin the painting. I sketched it straight onto the canvas with a mechanical pencil then did a thin coat of gel medium and gesso. Once that had dried, I applied a thinned coat of yellow ochre.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49CccXYBh0dIvKUJbTxGvIcVouEm8me8LOUy3TEu08eH9oa7Cvi63SJgljvn-Tv3HLavu3P44Iq2hIydj9I6VWSZ0W2ykpcCm0pG8dp0jrPpEK_qW12RiavYOBxdA_XTgt5f4CK-yVHjb/s320/venusiandrawing.jpg)
From there I embellished the darks, first with burnt Sienna, then for the deepest darks I used burnt umber. And I finished up with some Naples yellow to bring back the brightest areas.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvcw1JotbT7TaJJIqwjLUYmcKY7sxjWXo0S6Q16JZG5XOxG2N4_if4wRyWZ7_5fQ8hAV8UdOeFO5BYuufWPh4p4UdfK38x5i7hacpJ0_PnMYEJbaL-lpFqdg56hzsfMq3pFysclUttbKl/s320/venusianunderpainting.jpg)
And now, its ready for color.