Abstracted River View

Abstracted River View

The other day, I went to paint en plein air again, and started painting a lovely river scene. It was absolutely beautiful outside, with blue skies and puffy clouds and a lot of wind. (I had to keep my toe on the stand so that my painting wouldn't blow over.) Just a short time into my painting time, I heard a noise... then again... thunder! I was thankful to be near a place of shelter, and quickly started moving inside. But then I had to try to finish my painting without seeing the river in front of me, and that just did not work! I did my best to finish, but was not happy with the resulting painting, so I decided to paint over it. 

I had been wanting to try to paint a completely abstracted landscape from life or from a photo, and I decided this was a good opportunity. And honestly, I love the result. 

7" x 5"

Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on canvas panel

Ready to frame 

Click here to view on my website.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Last night, my Beloved Husband and I went for our evening walk on the boardwalk, and then drove on country roads to finish our errands. Both on the walk, and as we drove, I was completely distracted by the greens of spring! The fields in the evening sun, the new leaves, the green tints in the flood-swollen waterways; I was pulled right out of conversation by those colors. To me those colors are so satisfying, and even joyful. 

Those are the greens I tried to communicate in my abstract river view painting. Can you see where I painted the bright green leaves close up and the new tree growth in the distance? 

The entire painting was done with a wide "spatcher" - a paintbrush-shaped silicone blade in a handle. It moves paint in a different way than either a brush or a palette knife. I enjoyed the challenge of making it work in smaller spaces and shaping the colors into the landscape I wanted to represent. And because I enjoy this little painting so much, I have considered painting a 4' x 5' landscape or riverscape the same way. Wouldn't that be fun?