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The "experiment" part of the post comes at the end - you won't want to miss it!

I often create my studio pieces from a combination of plein air and photographic references. I will do several thumbnails to work out compositional ideas. On occasion, when I am making significant compositional changes I will test the thumbnail ideas out in a full color, painted study. They are usually rough and unfinished. But that's okay. They serve simply as an aid - an intermediate step - in my painting process.

Some of these little studies become gems in their own right. This painting is one of those occasions.

Study for Autumn Flow by Keith Bond. 6 x 12 oil on mounted linen. © Keith Bond 2011

Compare it to the finished studio painting.

Autumn Flow by Keith Bond. 8 x 16 oil on mounted linen. © Keith Bond 2011

You will notice that I cleaned up the colors a bit. I also added another grouping of pine trees in the middle ground on the right side of the painting. There is more depth in the final version. And I changed the contours of the river bank to be more interesting. But, there are also a few things I like better about the study. One example is the top left corner of the painting. I like the design of the golden willows and pines in the study better than the finished painting.

But, each painting can stand on its own.

The final version, Autumn Flow, sold at a miniature show at Trailside Galleries in Jackson, WY in 2011. As with most of my studies, I held on to the study for the past couple years.

But, since it is such a gem of a little painting, I decided to offer it for sale.

But, I'm going to try a bit of an experiment. I'm going to auction this painting off. Since it is a rough study, and since the size is so small, I thought it would be interesting to offer it through an auction process on my website - just to see what happens. If it works out great for everyone, I may do it again with other studies.

The study is offered unframed.

So, if you would like to own this little paint (remember it's the "Study" that is for sale, not the final painting), you may bid on it by replying in the "comments" section.

Here's how we will do this:

Minimum bid: $100. Yep, that's it to get started. We'll see where it goes from there.

Bidding increments: $50.

There is no reserve price. Highest bid will get the painting.

Bids are open to public view and you can receive notice of comments or bids by others.

You are also welcome to use the comments section to make comments even if you don't bit. But, heck, with such a low price, why not bid and add this little gem to your collection.

Bidding closes: Saturday, May 18, 10 pm Mountain Daylight Time.

Once the bidding closes, I will email the winning bidder and make payment and shipping arrangements.

The painting will be unframed.

Oh, by the way, I usually sell paintings this size for $700 (unframed price).

Good luck and have fun! I hope YOU win the bid and get the painting!

The bidding is now closed. Congrats to the winning bidder, Karen B.!