Reflections of an Artist

Hillside Trees

      I decided to go back to Eaton Canyon today to try a different color approach.  I wanted to punch up my colors from the week before.

      As I arrived, the mountains where still in the clouds but the sun was peaking through creating lots of atmosphere. I blocked in the dark areas first with a dark red. Then I painted the cloud shrouded mountains just as the sun was burning off the morning mist. 

      As a landscape painter, there is always a struggle to make the greens interesting. Pushing the colors of nature further, I will often add colors that are not really there. If I see an oak tree, I will add orange to the olive colored leaves or with a sycamore I will add yellow. I think it gives the painting more interest when the greens have a lot of variety. The yellow wild flowers along the path, gave a streak of color next to the new green grass.

      This little painting has all the colors of spring that I wanted.