Next painting in series

This is the progress for #2 in the SD series of old homesteads. 2 W 4 1/2 S. (reads from Platte 2 miles west then 4 1/2 miles south and find this homestead.

This is how far I have gotten today.

Scroll down 2 posts to see the beginning.

I have learned from doing two collages in a row and doing them differently. That I prefer getting background color on first then placing my elements and drawings or letters what have you ...and add layers over that. This has been hard for me to be adding layers to and around and on top of the places I want to disappear and come forward.
I am sure I just need practice, but it looks to me that having a start on the background would be an easier way to travel through the process. According to my resources they have this method as the examples..placing the elements then adding the color.
Have you found the process that works best or is there such a formula?

Looking at the pictures side by side you can see the progress I made today...I am making progress.
The pieces at the top are hay bales, the town map, the homestead and a barbed wire fence. I need to add the directions.

This was earlier today...