Steps in Creating an Arches National Park painting

In my sketch book a few years ago I used up some cobalt violet drying up on my palette. It was placed around the edges of a painting my mother started in her last days when she was suffering from dementia. Then when I was in Arches last week I started drawing and painting over the random colors. I liked the juniper trees and bushes that were starting to spring back to life. In the studio I added some white lines and more branches. I have expressed the struggle of life and rock. This 9" x 12" sketch may evolve into a full scale painting.