"Thatched Cottage and Rooster in Ireland" - Painting lesson working from travel photographs

I started this painting as a demonstration in one of my watercolor workshops. I had a photo of the street scene with the thatched cottage, and another photo of the rooster. Back in my studio I did a couple of quick thumbnail sketches to figure out my design, combining elements from both photographs. Notice the window I added for foreground interest. Notice too how I pushed the distant buildings back in space by reducing the value and subduing details and color. This is according to the law of aerial perspective. Click for purchase information.