The value of a value sketch.....

I find myself using value sketches more and more when starting a landscape.  I combine a small thumbnail with a bit of a more finished sketch, ending up with a "thumbnail value sketch".  The size is a bit larger than a thumbnail, this one is 5" x 7".  I sketched it using vine charcoal on some paper I prepared for pastel, Arches hot press watercolor paper with pumice gel applied with a foam roller.  My original intent was to just do the value study as a gray scale underpainting, and then start pasteling.  I kind of like this, so I think I'll just keep it as is.  It will be useful in developing a larger pastel painting I think.  I'm going to try to use it as my reference, and disregard my photo from this point forward.  This way I won't be "married to the photo", sort of a freeing experience I think.

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