
This scene was a difficult one because of the steep trail leading down to the river and the fact that I didn’t have sun on the river for the first 90 minutes, I painted basically in the shade.


I struggled with this painting because of having such a complex scene with no focal point (hoping for a light source) I was all over the place and couldn’t focus. In other words, I didn’t have a clear path to follow.


I then spotted the sun shining further on down the river, all I had to do was scoot my butt a 3/4 turn and I had a new scene! The sun was glowing down the river! YAY!

I used my spray bottle and did an interesting underpainting but I think that I got too carried away and should have planned out my painting a little more. All in all, I am pleased with this painting, always something to improve though plein air is not suppose to be perfect or tight.


I wished I had done a better job on these rocks but I think that I was getting tired. I know that I probably push to paint more paintings than I am up for but I figure if I am going to venture out and hike, I might as well do as many paintings as I can.
I was thinking of not posting these paintings but decided why not? I have been a little picky and hard on myself lately. I did paint a few days ago and I have yet to upload those. I might do it as I know when I am picky, it is good for me to proceed as usual.
Learning Points:
- Not all painting sessions are meant to be perfect and easy.
- Keep my plan of action clear, stop and re-focus.
- Continue to work on my values and saving my whites, I continue to struggle with this.
- My color selections felt off today, don’t let this interfere with my enjoyment.
Real strong showings and number 3 is absolutely amazing. Very beautiful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
oh I was wondering how they were…..I am totally clueless today, it was a fight out the gate till I got home! beautiful place but tough today.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Seems that the challenge inspired you to truly break out and just paint. They really are, all of them, quite fine.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Aletha 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish you could see the beauty I see in these! Let go! Enjoy! At least I’m feeling that way today! I am amazed at what you are able to capture. So uniquely you too Margaret. How fun that all of us can look at the same thing, use the same materials, and create such uniquely different and individual and beautiful works of art! Wonderful!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well….it beats all because I am so hard on myself and I was thinking it was a wash today! lol I hope to learn to let go and not fret so much 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
#3 is just perfect. Lovely colours, atmosphere and you got the water just right
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you! so fun painting that one 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful paintings. I commend your bravery with plein air. I’m still too afraid to try it. Anyway, really loved 3 (your sun dappled watercolor) and 4. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you! believe it or not I was scared to death to paint with watercolors en plein air. I have painted for years with my pastels but now I prefer the watercolor to pastels out in the field. For one thing, it is so much easier and I can hike in to areas that I can’t manage to take my pastels. Give it a try one of these days, you’ll get hooked once you get over the jitters. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ll do it! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll be your cheerleader 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
these are beautiful paintings! i especially love number 2 and 3. plein air is definitely difficult to do in my opinion so yay for you and for being so brave and sharing them with us! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
thank you so much, sometimes I forget that and blame myself too much, I needed that reminder 🙂
LikeLike
I really like the paintings in this post….especially where in the rocks I see so much abstraction. Beautiful. Janet:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
yep….I love abstraction and I am thinking that I will not hold back, it is a natural tendency to go there. 🙂 thank you for your comments, much appreciated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My oh my Margaret picture 3, wow I want to go to that place 😀 Magnificently painted…what is that blue? Those colours work so well together, this one really jumps out at me with a boom! Of and I too have big trouble with saving whites, that’s why I love ph Martin bleed proof white, it will cover areas I should have left so I can grab back my white, I know that the point is to retain the white in the first place, and I do need to persevere with this too, but it is a great painting saver 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh thank you for that tip, I will look into that. Does it look chalky? or natural like virgin paper? The blues that I used were FUB and Cobalt Blue. I loved this scene and while I painted it, I felt it and built upon what I was looking at, so it worked!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is just like watercolour but the colour stays hidden..I have tried other similar brands and they are not as good , I would not consider it to be chalky, and it mixes well with other colours, just very opaque, but better than white gouache in my opinion 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi there, I love these paintings, especially the third one down. Really cool! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you! my favorite as well 🙂
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Letters & notes and commented:
I love these paintings fom yubagold blog, especially the third.
Amazing! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll have to take a look….thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
fantastic! what bliss. loveliness Margaret. really! it is so cool you are working on Different wc papers. trying them. feeling them. Good for you 🙂 yay! I think i’m in love with #1 and #3 they want to slip into my heart!
Well done M.
You “Felt” the river, and it spoke back to you. Brilliant. cheers, your river friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww….thank you Debi! I had to approve your message, how weird is that? I will have to keep my eyes open on this……I really felt it even though it was a struggle and I love trying out all kinds of paper. I need to find other brands just to shake it up! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very nice Margaret. The visions I have when I look at your stuff…I’m picturing you chasing a bear and it really adds to your pretty art.
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol…..I am tempted to chase them when I see one. There is a family story in which my mother chased a bear in Idaho when they first moved there, she was so excited seeing a bear that she took off after it. I guess it runs in the blood 🙂 yep, you got that one right!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Giggle. Feisty!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are wonderful! I’m glad you decided to post them! It’s impressive how many paintings you make on these hikes! I’m really drawn to #3… it’s magical! 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol my magical painting for a magical place! you should have seen that trail going down to the river. I am thinking of installing a long rope! Thank you Charlie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Margaret! Stunning set right here. So hard to choose a favorite, I’ve now seen three times and still can’t choose. Possibly the last one because of all of the brilliant whites you left makes the rocks so strong and the sun, I can feel it on my face because the light is so bright! This set is probably my favorite set of yours after that grouping you did near the bridge or gorge or whatever my memory is so horrible I’m sorry but you’ll know what I mean. Wow!! These are stunning. I wish I could smash your inner critic, he really needs to go take a hike with lots of heavy pastels on his back and a boulder around his neck that will pull him into the river where he will sink from sight! Your work is gorgeous! Seriously. Never doubt it. 💜
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aren’t you a doll? I love hearing from you because I agree, my inner critic is very, very bad! I had to approve your comment, very weird…you had about three comments and so did Debi that I had to approve. I accidently ran into them. I’ll keep an eye on that. So fun to hear which paintings really speak to people. I truly loved the #3 and yes, the rocks even though I see problems with them…..but again that darn inner critic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have located and smashed your inner critic as a belated birthday gift. I buried him along with a ranting orange man…….lol!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! I hope…I hope (the ranting orange man) thank you Laura…. 🙂
LikeLike
Ok if you’d like me to resuscitate your inner critic, I may be able to, but orange man has given up the ghost lol. Even if you want IC back, I say he shall be smashamundo’ed lol 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 nope…..I don’t want IC back….life is good without him/it/her/them. I bet someone reading this would go like “what”??!! lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! ((((((((M)))))))))
LikeLike
Magnificent scenes Margaret.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Painting #3 is pure awesomeness to me. If you did lose control then nature took over and painted the rest. I think it is more than perfect. All four are pretty difficult motives and I think you mastered them in a beautiful way.
LikeLiked by 2 people
thank you Carsten 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow Margaret these are all excellent. It is really interesting to see how you move to abstraction, or at least, how strong the abstract foundation is in some of then paintings. I think it is particularly challenging when the scene contains so much data. Great Work.
LikeLiked by 2 people
thank you! I am finding that I move naturally to abstraction with all that detail though at times I am wanting more realistic detail but ultimately I know that I have to be quick and get it done. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Beautiful paintings and photographs – I’m always glad you post pictures of your paintings, I enjoy seeing them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: Madrone Madness #8 – Yuba Gold
I enjoy your work. It is lively and fluid.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I am always striving for that in my work.
LikeLike