Montana Big Sky Farmlands Watercolor Painting Part 1

Big Sky Farmlands  No. 1 Watercolor Landscape

This artwork began as a view from the car, on a road traveled often.  There's something about the dramatic clouds that had me in awe.  Living in the rural areas of Montana...well, it's pretty much all rural...there's a lot of driving to and from as a part of everyday life.  If you've never been here, it will be hard to comprehend.  We spend a lot of time in the car on a regular basis.  The views of land and sky go on forever.  Each day holds a new striking view of the surroundings.  My favorite sight is the many strips of green crops against gold stubble fields against bare dirt becoming a great mosaic.

The first photo is the original that I began with and the second shows an HDR filter added.  With the filter applied, I have a greater contrast for values.  I see the light and dark areas clearly.

My sketch is drawn with consideration of the details I want to keep for the final artwork.  The sketch (on tracing paper) is layered over graphite paper and watercolor paper.  A binder clip holds it all firmly in place on a masonite board.  A harder 2H pencil makes the transferring of the sketch more effective.

The pigments are mixed up and sampled on a scrap of  watercolor paper.  The first soft washes are placed into the sky.  Direction and motion are very important.  A barely damp brush lifts color back out to create the light beams breaking through clouds.

Art Studio Progress: Montana's Big Sky and Farmlands in Watercolors

A peek at what's going on today:

Yesterday, I just couldn't take it anymore!  I had to clean up this place.  It was driving me crazy.  Fall is here and the wind can really blow in Montana.  Leaves are everywhere.  That includes my art studio AKA the solarium.  I've got plenty to do but the state of this room was more than I could handle.  The clutter seems to clog up the creative energy.

So by last evening, I was too tired to sit down at with brushes and palette.  It was great to start fresh this morning.  With so much time spent between the computer and cleaning in the past two days, it took some time to find my groove today.  That makes me nervous...working on a painting before I'm really feeling "it" could mean mistakes.  I tentatively press on, believing any mistakes can be resolved.  I battle between being too tight and too free in my manner.  I could really use some loosening up with color and technique most days.

I brought out nature items collected to display on the art supply cabinet.  I used this space for photographing artwork, prepping for Etsy listings.  Photographing artwork to look it's best is harder than I expected.  With much frustration, I'm learning as I go along.  Sometimes, I just want to learn it too quickly.  I want the answers now but that's not how it works.  It takes sticking with it, being patient for a better idea to come another day.  The balance between hard working while still relaxed enough to create...that's my task.  It's a joy most of the time.  Other times, I stomp my foot and growl, and then I move on.  I can be silly like that because it's just me and a kitty that is busy chasing her tail.

I'm not sure how to explain it but I'm feeling that this piece is close to completion.  I'm putting it aside until I can have a critique session, most likely with my husband at the end of the day.  I've got two other watercolor landscapes waiting in the wings.  I'm off to get going again.

-Christy
because she must make art.