Moose - Lights and Darks

Since I have already made the decision to keep the colors of the moose on the lighter side of the species, the challenge will be to create strong shadows and highlights within the middle range.  That will allow for a few extreme darks and lights to help the moose be more three-dimensional.  Since the trees in the far background are primarily dioxazine purple, it makes sense to being the moose shadow work with the same color for shadows and contour.  See the beginning of what is sure to be a many-layered process, below.

Blocking in lights and darks in moose layer #2 (remember, layer #1 is "Ghost Moose.")  Click on image to enlarge.  Also notice I will continue to tweak the rocks in the background, the grass, and ....I have to do something with the piercing tree branch!

I need the antlers and ears to have definition and contour right away.  The lightest portion is white with burnt sienna and the shadowed portions are diox purple with white.  Notice the addition of purple for the darker shadows on the body and the "beginning of the end" of dagger branch.

...and so the layering continues.