complexity & simplicity

I often find that the simpler my subjects are, the more fun I have painting them. They also inevitably end up being some of my best work. I think maybe its because simple subjects  resonate better with the inherent simplicity of the watercolor medium. I really enjoy allowing large, intermingling washes to do what they want, to surprise me with their lack of rhyme or reason. I call it the art within watercolor. I will describe my creative thoughts and process in the creation of my painting " Confluence"  shown below.  ( Confluence suggests the joining of two rivers. Here, the mighty Susquehanna River is joined by a beautiful, trout filled Maryland tributary called "Deer Creek" 

This was the photo I took while walking across an old railroad bridge that crosses Deer Creek. Note the clear delineation in the color of the two rivers.

Step 2: I looked for the underlying warm hues and lightest values and wash them in. I also left a few whites to help define the big sycamore tree.

Step 4: At this stage, I begin to strengthen some of the hues that I felt were to weak with darker, more saturated color. I also start adding in my darkest darks using dry brush technique, especially behind my subject, the fisherman. 

Step1:  The drawing.  A simplified, rough approximation of what I saw. I eliminated a few trees to increase the emphasis on the fisherman.  

Step 3:  Next comes what I believe are the middle values. I approach my paintings in a very structured, methodical manner with respect to just 4 levels of values.

Final Stage:  Still not happy with the strength in values of the water, I apply even darker, multiple hue washes and allow them to do what they want, kind of like a real river. The green bucket was not visually strong enough to attract your eye to the focal point, so I made it orange. I added some pigment to the wet washes in foreground creek to suggest reflections and let gravity softly pull them downward.  Enjoy!

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