Oil and Water #2

 

My "quick paint" entry.

    I returned from Door County a few weeks ago,  and I have trying to put into words what I discovered about "oil and water".  First of all, there is no better place to learn about painting water than Door County.  There are so many different types of water all in one place!  There is calm water, with its interesting reflections,  choppy water with lots of busy shapes to work with, and all sorts of water vistas in each of the unique villages nestled along the beautiful shoreline.
    I watched many of the 40 invited artists interpret water on their canvases.  I could see what they were looking at and then see how they handled what they saw.  What a learning opportunity!  One night all 40 artists were at a lakefront park in Sister Bay, all painting the same sunset!   What a smorgasbord of ideas and approaches to the same subject!
      I set out with my KC painting buddies and painted several types of water myself.  I decided what creates the transparency in water is the changes in values the reflections
and the light provides.  I also learned once again, that "less is more".  It is impossible to interpret every little ripple or reflection, so the artist has to decide which ones he/she needs to add that will enhance the composition and eye movement.
When working fast in a plein air setting, I found I had to separate my values and be decisive with a few stokes.  If I overworked my water, the light and darks values mixed together and turned grey.  I found the less I feared painting water, the better results I had.  I am happy to report that I sold 2 of my waterscapes (posted below) while in Door  County, so as far as I'm concerned, "mission accomplished"!
       

"Waving Glory"

"Eagle Harbor Sunset"