Thermals process

36"x36"

(Dog not included)

 Because the picture I have in mind relies on some precision, I measured, outlined, and cut out the shapes so I can transfer them well onto the board when it's ready.

 Here they are laid out as they will be in the drawing.

And the interlocking primary feathers, compared to the study.

 After a few hours of work (working between grad school homework and sleep)
(Dog still not included)

 After probably several dozen hours of work, multiple breaks, and a great deal of graduate school homework.  I an certainly not as prepared as I had thought I was to do the cloudscape, but the general flow I had hoped to achieve is present.  There will be significant fine-tuning from this point - the entire cloudscape will need to be darkened, the vultures will need to be unified, and so on.
It didn't photograph very well - it isn't actually nearly so murky, though it isn't up to my standards yet.