Foreground elements

I decided to add  the deer in the foreground and this is what I did to figure out the best placement for them. I painted them roughly on a transparent sheet and moved it along the painting to decide the best  spot for them.

Smooth canvas prep work

I prefer a smooth canvas, so I treat the canvas with 2-3 additional layers of gesso with sanding in between the layers. I found this wide paint trowel that really helps spread the gesso quickly and evenly. The canvas is 24”x36”