San Marco

I've been distracted with travel, pitching freelance, and working on a commissioned piece I don't want to post until it's done. But today was one of the best days of painting ever.
It's a big canvas for me- 30x40. I'd primed the canvas with gray acrylic gesso weeks before. it's a new thing, starting from a midtone value and I wasn't sure I'd be able to see my grid. I ended up using chalk which worked like a charm. Tuesday I did the drawing and it turns out I love drawing on gray. This morning after my run and shower I went straight to the canvas. Painting from 9 to 2-ish I did some of the strong vertical bands on the left, and blocked in the sketchbook.
After lunch I came back and worked on the floor tile and some shadows cast by the high-backed wooden bench and the Savonarola chair. Washed up my brushes at six. I can't wait to get back to it tomorrow. My daughter likes it 'as is. I think it looks like the bench and chair are wearing gray pinstripe suits. But I'm looking forward to laying in the wood grain.