The Evolution of "Festival Sunset Dance", Part 2

Here are the next two studies I did during the development of my finished art for The Festival at Sandpoint.
I liked the feeling of that third piece, but I started to realize that the art needed more of the actual look of The Festival setting. After all, the lake setting and the clouds are a fun background for the dancers and they all combine for a happy painting, but the scene doesn't really say much about The Festival for viewers.

So, I added the performance tent and audience in the background. Although I really like the exuberance of those leaping dancers, I decided they looked a little too much like they are flying... high. Maybe that sends the wrong message about The Festival, a respectable family type community activity.
(above) "Jump for Joy"
Original oil on canvas, 12"x9" unframed ©2011 Diana Moses Botkin
SOLD
(left)
"Festival Dance"
Original oil on hardboard
10"x8" unframed
©2011 Diana Moses Botkin

SOLD

Lowering the dancers made them more grounded, and I liked the idea of the sunset sky. This one's really close to the feeling I wanted for the poster art.
Tomorrow I'll show you the final development of my idea. Please contact me if you are interested in owning any of these studies, or go to my DailyPainters gallery page and choose "Buy Now" for the painting you'd like to purchase.