what to do with extra paint

i often end a painting session with excess paint on my palette. as someone who hates to waste resources, i often will smear it onto a blank canvas to use as a starting point for next time. this time, the color scheme made me think of a peaceful scene, so i made this:

it's thicker paint than i usually apply, but it was a lot of fun. it's not finished, but i will probably set it aside for a while before i am inspired to add to it.

oil on canvas board, 9x12

study in back

finding a landscape in a model's back:

eagle spirits

this painting began as a standard wildlife/landscape composition. however, as layers were added to it, something surreal began to emerge from the mountains. the following photos show this progression.

this painting is now in the show perspectivo: unexpected views of nature at the falls church arts gallery (virginia).