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Like a floodlight in a theater, a single ray of sunshine casts light on a white water lily. This bloom seemed to speak in a quiet voice of its singleness, reminding me of our isolation during this pandemic. Reminding me also of how grateful I am that I can witness such gifts from nature that bring so much joy and hope. For the sun will, indeed, rise tomorrow. Rachel Carson says it better: “There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”

This painting began with a simple sketch in pastel. I then used brush and alcohol to create an underpainting. When the underpainting was dry, I gradually defined the shapes using pastel. I was mindful of not creating too much detail - I want you, the viewer, to be engaged in the painting by filling in some of the detail yourself. I hope I've succeeded in leading your eye to the white bloom – “The Star of the Show.”

I tried to capture the peachy-colored light on the water and the serenity of the entire scene. The low light softened the detail in the tree line, creating nice abstract shapes.

This 10" x 12" pastel on Uart paper is unframed and will be shipped to you safely protected between two pieces of foam core board.

Here are some photos of the work in progress.

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What first attracted me to paint this scene was all the different colors in the water. Painting the different depths of water and the various colors and reflections on the water turned out to be both a pleasure and a challenge. This is a pastel on paper, matted and ready for your frame. Please contact me if you wish to discuss framing options.

I really didn't know what to call this narrow flow of water into Lake Michigan. Using a Webster's Dictionary I decided rivulet would work.

rivulet

If you've been following my February Challenge you will know that the last few days of the February challenge I spent painting this larger piece, and you probably saw photos of this as a work-in-progress. Here is the finished painting ready to be framed and shipped off to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore where it will become part of the Artist-in-Residency Gallery. I was selected in August 2016 to be part of the Artist-in-Residency Program at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. I spent two weeks painting, exploring and hiking in the park. I also took hundreds of reference photos to use for new paintings. 

Painted from a reference photo, and sketches made during my Artist-in-Residency at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in August 2016. This is a small painting that I am considering making a larger version of.

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