Step 4

The last large area to be painted is the snow in the middle and background.

By adding more rocks around the fallen log, I can bring more interest to that area. While it was wet, I used a sharp blade to scratch some grasses to  add even more detail. 

The first thing that the viewer sees in any painting is the pattern. The areas of light, middle and dark values are the key to making any painting successful.
The best pattern will incorporate a variety of sizes and shapes. The pattern of each of the values should also connect visually or physically.

I chose a middle value for the rocks. With the pattern in mind, I wanted the rocks to connect with the values in both the water and the ice in the foreground. The shapes of the pattern also create movement. The light snow is a triangular shape that is pointing from the upper left corner down to the foreground to connect with the lights in the center of interest.

Happy with the pattern, all that is left is deciding how much and where to put any details.