A Delicate Balance

Plein Air Original Watercolor
8 x 10"

Another one for the Land Trust show, from mid-June. Just getting around to framing it today.

When I went to Kristofferson's creek, I didn't see a painting at first. I followed the path into the cool forest and down to a platform where the "creek" was. Mosquitos attacked immediately and the creek was just a trickle. Not at all what I expected, so I turned around to go back to the car.

Then as I was coming back out to the entrance, I saw it! The sun lit up the young trees and new daisies. All through this experience, I realized that there was a delicate balance at work......between the occupied areas surrounding the creek, between my expectations of what I was going to paint and, during the process of painting; between the warm/cool, light/dark shapes and the sunlit textures . It truly was a balancing act.

Discovery

Plein Air Original Watercolor
8" x 10"

Finally got this framed, too. It's another painting from Livingston Bay for the WCLT show.

While I was standing on the berm, concentrating on capturing the mud in the channel, I heard voices....quite close. Soon, two girls seemed to be floating in a sea of wild grasses and flowers. They were out for an after dinner ride on their white horses. They quietly disappeared further down the trail.

The Marsh at Livingston Bay

"Drift" sold
Plein air original watercolor
8" x 10"

I am posting these as I am framing them. This one goes to the show on Aug 1 at Gallery By the Bay in Stanwood.

Although I painted it June 15, it only got a signature today. Another one of those that "ripen in the dark".

Award and Sold at Auction

Just a quick note regarding the previous post:

I am honored to have received an award for "The Channel at Livingston Bay". My painting was sold at auction during the Garden Party event for the Whidbey Camano Island Land Trust on Sunday. There were 5 awards and I am pleased to have been among such esteemed colleagues.

If you can, please attend the opening of the show at Gallery By the Bay in Stanwood on Aug 1. There are so many good pieces in this show.

How Large is a Good Painting?

The Channel at Livingston Bay
Original Watercolor (8x10")

One of my criteria for a "good painting" is that the impact is the same whether it is large or small.
A small painting, when it has enough emotional content, can seem large in the eye of the viewer.

I hope you'll agree that this one fits the criteria. How big did you imagine it to be?

I am finishing up the framing for this one to go into the Camano Island Plein Air Event, which opens on Sunday. There will be a live auction as well as a follow-up show at Gallery by the Bay in Stanwood.