Predominantly I use many layers of acrylic wash to achieve the transparencies I want to represent the landscapes I interpret.   Painting with the canvas on a level surface like the floor allows me greater control over the medium when I'm not fighting gravity.  I can be sure the applications of wash are where I want them to stay.

I prime and prepare the canvas surface with it stretched onto sheets of plywood.  The next step is to border off the work surface to establish the scope and dimensions.  Only after the work is complete do I construct a stretcher of 3/4" plywood, ripped to length and beveled, ready to install the completed canvas.

An example of the scale of the work