I think it is maybe finished... but could still use some more really dark sections... so perhaps not. This process is slow for me, because it necessitates waiting between the layers & there are A LOT of layers. If I contrast that with the result though I am pleased & need to be exceedingly slow & patient as I finish the painting. I think you spend 10% of your time on 90% of the painting & then 90% of your time on 10%... It's the 10% that makes the painting... At least that's what I think today. Happy Friday Y'all!

This painting is not finished. It hasn't even "stopped at an interesting place along the way", yet. This painting started with horizontal lines of white gouache covering the paper and continued with Payne's Grey lines building up the image. Those lines were salted while drying. Paintings like this take a long time to complete, because of all of the drying time involved. It is challenging to be patient, but I know that if I rush I will not have the clarity of line I want. So Thank G*D for dehumidifiers & fans that speed the process. Perhaps there will be a completed painting tomorrow. Happy Thursday Y'all! 

I am trying to figure out the most effective way to utilize gouache in the underpainting. I am enamored of the color differential it provides & want to find an expressive way to use it. The crying oyster shells work some, but I want the the to use the contrast as an integrated part of the design & not the actual design. All of the brighter blue that is present in this image is a direct result of the white gouache underpainted lines, as the only watercolor pigment used was Payne's Grey. So we will see what I can come up with. Happy Tuesday Y'all! 

All things are possible to him who believes, they are less difficult to him who hopes, they are easier to him who loves  - Brother Lawrence  Happy Friday Y'all! 

I have yet to figure out why the salt flakes remain visible sometimes. What I have been able to suss out is how much pigment I like to apply for the desired light & dark contrast. I am particularly enamored with the disappearing salt effect depicted in the top painting. It seems as if those granules were able to pull much larger areas of pigment. Perhaps an overall dryer canvas? Things to think about. Happy Thursday Y'all! 

I am still experimenting with the gouache underpainting the wet wash/salt layers. The different colors that emerge as a result are intriguing. This overall painting has a blurry look & I rather like it. Perhaps I have been influenced too much by the fog of the past two weeks. As long as it advances the painting I don't mind. Happy Wednesday Y'all! 

When the tide is moving & the wind is blowing the same direction you can get really fast moving water in normally staid spots of the the creek. This happened last friday. In the video you can see that the water is moving so fast it pixelates. Yes, I recognize this detracts from the aesthetic considerations of the video, but there is still something compelling about viewing this. That afternoon there were definitive gold tones to the water that still come thru & they are present in this clip. Happy Tuesday Y'all! 

The cloud shapes for the past 72 hours have been quite striking. I am increasingly aware of how consciously & unconsciously everything I see influences/ends up in my paintings. Be careful little eyes what you see. Happy Monday Y'all!