Raging, yet peaceful.

When I posted this over on the Facebook Design and Art Resource group James commented that it was peaceful but still raging (the water) and I took that as a huge compliment since that was the mood I was trying to convey in this. This painting almost didn't make the cut. I wrestled it into submission though after it begged me to keep going. At an early stage I think I must have been painting in my sleep because I looked at it one day and said "OMG. Why in the world did you do THAT?" But I persevered and now I think it is my current favorite. I hope you enjoy standing along the banks of "Bridal Veil Creek" in Yosemite National Park. Don't fall in though. That water is fast and cold! ;) 

Bridal Veil Creek, 12x26 watercolor on 140# Arches CP

P.S. Thank you James!

Feast or Famine

I seem to be painting in waves here. No pun intended. Here are two more that were completed yesterday and luckily Don was in the mood to shoot them last night.

"Summer Storm" Watercolor on Arches 140# CP (11x17)

"Summer Storm" is inspired by another image from our 2007 trip to England. Same road as Greener Pastures. The trees behind the barn were not planned but as is often the case with watercolor, you get happy accidents. At first I was upset that my sky appeared to be marred when the green field bled into it but now I like it.

"California Edge" (Title pending)

If I'm going to be honest I have to tell you that this one started out a lot larger. I intended it to have Bixby Bridge on the left but for some reason it was distracting and didn't seem to fit with the natural coastline and led the eye away from the water and cliffs. Funny thing, that. The bridge IS awesome though. We will always refer to it as the "Bronson Bridge" because it was used in the ancient and short-lived TV series Then Came Bronson starring Michael Parks in which he drove his motorcycle across it in the opening credits. It's located on the Big Sur highway and is quite impressive—just not so much in my painting.

I'm a little behind in listing new work but these will also be added to my Etsy shop.

Paddling the river of my mind

Last night I was trying to think of a good title for one of my latest watercolors. I was on chat with a dear friend who suggested that this (imaginary) scene conjured up the feeling of kayaking on a peaceful river at sunset. So I am calling it "Along the River" and you can click that if you want to see details of it over at Etsy.

I have no idea where this river might be because it came directly from my mind with a lot of help from my paintbrush, but I want to go there. This made me realize that the only paddling I've been doing lately is life. More like trying to stay afloat in the state the world is in.

I think I need to go kayaking again though and do some real paddling.

When it's a little warmer.