Painting A View of Rock City in Watercolors
The next watercolor painting in a series of five landscapes focuses on a view that's familiar to many locals. There's an area known as Rock City, a short drive north of Valier, Montana. It's not easy to find without specific directions. It's definitely a place you'd call off the beaten path. We've taken weekend drives to get out of the house and this is a free, unusual outing. While going through my photo references, I came across a view along the river's edge. When I took the photos several years ago, it was already in my mind as a possibility for a future painting.
The rock formations in this area are very unusual compared to the surrounding landscape. The best I can describe it, you're driving through what looks like farmland and prairie going on forever and then boom, you're there. The rocks rise up in these crazy and fun shapes and the kids can't wait to jump out and run from one to another. There's grasses, low-lying shrubs and wildflowers...and it's smart to watch for snakes. I am sharing all these photos to give a better perspective of the area where my painting's view originated. A few of these photos have been altered with filters. That's one of the ways I prepare a photo as an art reference. I bump it up a bit to achieve more color contrast along with distinct shadows. My artistic style leans toward bold, vibrant colors with a hint of impressionistic textures.
