Tulip Field with Trees

I have resolved to do better at keeping up my "daily painting blog".

My reasons (or excuses) for the evidently sad neglect:

1. Life interrupts while trying to keep up these pages.

2. Autumn light is irresistible and I have been out there just taking it all in.

3. My weekly classes are now at the stage where I have a pretty good idea of the direction I want to take the individuals who attend. That takes a lot of extra thought and preparation.

So I found this photo of a painting I did on location during the tulip festival in Mt Vernon last April. All these colors are off the ground now and in the trees. But not for long.

Gotta go back out there and get another look before it all goes away!

The Bluffs at Ebey's Landing -- SOLD

So here's the final result. This is the painting that was sold the next day at the Plein Air Painters' US Open.

No matter what the weather, this location always has something to offer. I feel grateful for the circumstances that give me such beautiful scenery to view, contemplate and paint.

Sky and Shadows

I left the sky for last.....not the usual procedure in watercolor painting, but I needed to catch the shadows on the bluffs while I could.

Now it's fine tuning while adding texture, directional strokes in the waves and more light and shadow in the foreground.

The Adolescence of the Painting

I got caught up in the painting, trying to keep up with the shadows on the bluffs.
I had to watch for those shadows as the sun kept going in and out of the clouds.

This is typically where the running commentary fades away during my demonstrations, too. The adolescence of the painting. You need all your wits about you during the adolescence of anything!

Starting the foreground and water

Here's the next step, starting the foreground and water.