Things are Melting

Things were melting today, starting with parts of the canal bike path. Unfortunately most of it was still frozen and slushy, but I was still able to make it up to Park Angrignon and a cool sunny day. This foot bridge goes over a small creek that I have painted before although on a much colder day than this. Due to the above zero temperatures I could use fresh water and the paint was drying pretty well which allowed for a more complex rendering. I am still in the winter painting mindset, that is, paint fast and move on to the next one!
 

Melting Creek with Footbridge, watercolour 6 x 8" cold press, March 2023 (No. 3378b)

 

I started painting this scene upon arrival to the park. I knew it would take awhile for the background to dry, so I headed to the footbridge to start that painting. After the foot bridge painting, I finished this one with the overlay of trees. The trees were done with yellow ochre (PY43) adjusted with carbon black (PBk6), orange (PO62), and raw umber (PBr7). The shadows had a perspective on them, radiating outwards from the sun through the trees.

Sun Shining Through Forest, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, March 2023 (No. 3412b)

 

When I first arrived at the canal I was quite excited to see something that resembled grass! The ground was dark brown and yellow with blue puddles, while the snow was white with cool shadows. The canal in the background was still frozen but the ice was thinning and showing signs of greyish-green. To provide some colour I included the green buoy (PG36) with my signature in red (PR254).

Muddy Grass and Melting Snow, watercolour 5 x 7" cold press, March 2023 (No. 3413a)