With this step I begin to paint the distant flat topped mountains starting with the furthest. As always, I compare my color for correct value. This time using both the cloud value and tree value as reference and again laying my first strokes of color for the mountains directly against the cloud portion of the sky and the darkest tree and working out from that point. Once I finish this section I then dropped to the foreground and began laying in the lighter values of the various bushes comparing it's value and contrast with the darker middle ground to which I also begin to work in some detail. Before continuing further I allow the painting to dry.