On The Easel - Prairie Marsh - 11 x 14 Oil

Prairie Marsh, 11 x 14, Oil on Wood Panel © Beth Cole

Happiest new year to you dear reader!

This piece, Prairie Marsh, started a few days ago in the wee hours of the morning when I couldn't sleep, you know how that is. I think it was 4:00 in the morning (those morning hours are good to me).

I had an idea from a photo I took on one of my drives home from Omaha on highway 92. It had just rained and there were marshy lagoons and puddles here and there. I stopped several times to consider the glitters and skitters of light on the water. 

So the composition follows my photo fairly closely, and the colors are inspired by one of the recent master painting studies I painted. This one almost painted itself. Almost. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does I am always so grateful.

My tools were a palette knife, oil paint, and brushes to soften edges and add texture. I started with a drippy blue underpainting which was a fun way to get things going.

I have a few other paintings in progress, including some more master paintings that are teaching me a lot. I will share more soon.

Take good care and thanks for taking a look.

--Beth
Soli Deo Gloria