This is the second painting that I did on Friday at Malibu Creek (see Malibu Creek State Park post).  I painted this scene earlier this month on a very cloudy day and wanted to paint while the sun was shining. 
       
        Since I already had the composition established, it was a quick start to paint in the values.  I kept the mountains softer than they appeared to enhance perspective.  It was important to keep the mountains simple or they would overpower the painting. 
      
        The meadow came in next and helped to establish a wonderful contrast against the shadows coming down the hill on the left.  The stream and tree in the foreground anchored the scene. The final touch was the bright white of the trunks of the eucalyptus trees along the horizon line that jump out at you. 
      
        This was a painting that seemed to paint itself.