Morning Tea in the Pergola

First stage in a painting of people sitting at a table

Second stage of people sitting at a table

Third stage of a painting of people sitting at a table

In this painting the initial sketches were done on the spot, showing the pergola set in a lush tropical garden. However as the painting developed in the studio, I brought in other elements in the foreground to balance the painting. I positioned the extra elements on the studio floor, as they would be seen in the painting and then added them into the composition in that way.