"Calm" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

"Calm" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

The main reason I wanted to paint this scene was that lovely reflection of the mast in the foreground. I started this painting while sitting in my car. and attempted to paint it "plein air". Painting on location is very difficult as the light, and in this case, the water are constantly changing and moving. In fact, I kept chasing the tide as the foreground changed dramatically from the time that I started to when I stopped. When I got the painting home, it was a mess...all the values were too similar with little distinction between the far trees, the water and the foreground. Ugh.

I let the painting sit for a few days and thought about how to fix it. I started by darkening the background trees as well as the foreground grasses. I also darkened the foreground water just a bit to give some contrast to the white reflection of the mast. With just a few brushstrokes, the entire painting came together rather quickly. I really wish I had a before and after photo since the results were quite remarkable. I'm really quite happy with the final result.

This 6 inch square painting is available for $60. Click the Buy Now button below or click here for other payment options.