Bayou Boogie

It's been quite a while since my last post but I have not been idle. The below image was originally inspired by my sister Lisa's story about a "pet" alligator that became quite friendly (too friendly) around her husband Richard's fishing camp in the bayou near their home in SW Louisiana.

I'm trying a new thing here, tinting the gesso with a middle ground color and working up a value painting before applying my oil washes. Below you see the final sketch through finish.