Another water painting.

Still Water. 8x10

Seems like I am on a water binge. Last time I did a series it was Spruce trees and flowers.

From a photograph I took in Westcliffe Colorado, late last summer. Where I live, at 9,000 feet, the leaves had already turned, but further south and at lower elevation, they were just beginning. I paint so much fall color that it is a nice change to paint green leaves. I had to have a touch of orange and yellow though! It is more challenging to give the greens some variety, but thinking about what is warm and and what should be cool helps. Bob Rohm's book, mentioned in my last post, helped me with the water. He says to paint the reflections with vertical strokes and to use horizontal brush strokes on the water. He also suggests vertical brush strokes on the sky when there are no clouds. I tried it here, but am not so sure I like it as much as my usual random brushstrokes. I will try it again though before giving up on it. He recommends vertical strokes because it gives the sky an uplifted feeling.