Thanks Frank and Dan

Dan: I'm glad that my sketch inspired you. Congratulations on your excellent image of Saturn with Rhea transit. That is an amazing photographic image.

Not that I would encourage only the imaginary art from a planets or moons surface but they can be good practice if anything. When you say painting, are you referring to oil painting? That can be quite a commitment as I have done some oil painting in the past but only sketched with pastels so far for the astro images.

I might encourage you to take a look at the many books about Chesley Benoestell's art. Although I did not really refer to books for this work as the lower portion of this work was entirely imaginary yet supposed to be somewhat accurate as to the implied surface scene at the Grimaldi crater. The actual observed image above is what is intended more so for the sketch forum.

Bonestell did many planet and moons surface scenes; ie; Saturn seen from one of its moons surfaces. Some are available in small versions in the web for reference.>

http://www.novaspace.com/LTD/BONESTELL/Chesley_ltd.html

http://www.bonestell.com/the_chesley_bonestell_archives001.htm

http://astrona.blogspot.com/2006/09/chesley-bonestell-space-art.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesley_Bonestell

Mark