Finally back from holidays and back to painting…..more rocks!  And the good news (for me) is that I took LOTS more rock photos on our holidays.  Enough to keep me busy for a LONG time.

I just finished this painting today and it was a real struggle.  I must have painted the water about 4 times.  I had never done light coloured water that was catching lots of light and I found it very difficult.  There are a LOT of layers of paint on it.  I am glad that this one is done.

My painting group’s spring sale is over for another year.  🙁  It was a lot of fun and I sold 5 paintings.  I hope they enjoy their new homes.

Here are the ones that sold:

Bow West Artists Show & Sale
Silver Springs Community Centre
5720 Silver Ridge Dr. NW
Calgary, AB
April 9, 2016
10am – 3pm

I really enjoy painting rocks:  I guess that is my geology background coming out in my retirement past-time of painting.  Here is my most recent one – from start to finish.

Step 1 – I start by painting a value painting – just the lights, medium and darks.  I usually use Van Dyke brown or Payne’s Grey.

Step 2 – Then I start adding some layers of colour:

Step 3 – I keep layering until the colours are right – adding lots of rock texture and shading as well.

Step 4 – Finally I add the details to get the final painting: little white marks showing where the water meets the boulders and adding the reeds in the water.

Here is my Painting “Studio” – also my laundry room (I can multi-task!)