Fish Creek Harbor IMG_1928

Fish Creek Harbor was painted during the Peninsula Plein Air Event during the last week of July in Door County.  It was a perfect morning to be at the water's edge, painting along with many other plein air artists.  I aimed for a spontaneous and transparent rendering of the sparkling water, rippled with wakes from the departing boats.  As  usual, plein air painting puts a premium upon instant recognition of main shapes, shadows, edges and overall ambience and the ability to transfer these to the paper or canvas without hesitation.  While the majority of plein air painters use oil, acrylic or pastel, watercolor is a medium that can capture the sparkle of changing highlights and shadow patterns. in a very unique way. However, watercolor is also the medium that insists upon fresh, intentional brushstrokes and the overriding goal of "seeing" the white spaces and respecting them.  My adaptation to this requirement is to develop a detailed drawing of my subject so that I can be freer to splash around in between, behind and around them and not resort  to a labored, timid, slow approach.

I used Manganese, Ultramarine and Cerulean Blue, Transparent and Indian Yellows  Sap and Winston Greens, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Sepia and Titanium White for small touches.  My goal for Fish Creek Harbor was to present a sharp contrast between the whites of the boats, sidewalk, and sailboat masts with the dark and brilliant greens, siennas and blue mixtures in the shade of the foreground maple tree.