When I set up, the water was as flat as a mirror, and I could see some wonderful oranges and yellows in the bottom of the marsh. The submerged boulders looked like giant nuggets of gold. But wouldn't you know, as soon as I got the underpainting laid in, the wind came up, almost completely obscuring the rocks, save for the rich color.
If the wind had stayed calm, this would have been a much different painting, with the focus on the rocks. The wind forced me to shift the focus to the red maple in the distance. Fortunately, a painter can and should be flexible. Never let yourself get locked into a goal. Always be open to new opportunities.
"Jordan Pond Maple"8x10, oil
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Friday, Trina and I are heading out to Sedona for the Sedona Plein Air Festival! I'm really looking forward to the event. If any of you are in the area (Sedona, Phoenix, Flaggstaff), I hope you'll swing by for some of the fun. You can learn more at www.sedonapleinairfestival.com.
