From Photo to Painting

Here's a photo of Trinity Episcopal Church in Apalachicola.   I love the statuary in front which commemorates John Gorrie, the inventor of the forerunner of the air conditioning machine.  Oftentimes, I hesitate to paint something because it is obscured by  foliage or other objects, as is the case with the church.  But then I remember that I can move things around. I altered the position of the tree to reveal more of the entrance to the church.   Then I eliminated some of the base of the statue so there wouldn't be so much to attract the viewer's eye.  So here is the sketch that I intend to paint tomorrow.  We'll see how it goes.