I thought I would take a moment to update on the progress of "Autumn Monarch". Although the background isn't entirely done, enough of it is completed that I am able to start working on the elk bull itself. Yesterday I started on his antlers and was able to complete them this morning. I was also able to paint his eyes and this afternoon will continue work on the nose as well as highlights and shadows to indicated the shape of his face.

I've very pleased with the way the antlers turned out. Of course I had much better photo references now than I did the last time I did a painting of an elk. What a difference having a zoom lens on my camera has made.