Working the Bugs Out

I think I like the dark background for the Chess Board. I did a similar one during the ZL Feng workshop with a light background, and I think this one has more "drama" (Not something I usually like in Life, but great in a painting). I didn't think to photograph the other one before giving it away, but I am considering both of them as "practice" for a larger, chess themed painting. I like the black & white effect with the colors. I finished this painting with metallic embossing powders along the edge & to add texture to the pears. The distortion on the left side of the painting is from the tilt of my tablet as I took the photo.

I played more with the reflections and the Knight, and I know the "?Royal" piece in the back looks kinda like a wedding cake, so it needs to be worked out before the big painting gets on the watercolor paper.Now that I am comfortable with the elements, I am looking forward to the larger painting.