Painting in Pt. Reyes

Point Reyes...it's been too long.
I lived near there,
growing up in the fresh air, sun and fog.

I'd forgotten the greeeeen hills in Spring,
but not the bluuuuuue skies.
Dark cypress, so tall and
carved up into ink-splotches by wind,
and there is plenty of wind in Point Reyes.

The purpose of this visit:
Watercolor.
Not an easy medium for me.
I'm impulsive, adding and adding.
Somehow I lose the white.
Keeping the white makes watercolor watercolor.

Nell Melcher knows how to save the white.
Slow, careful, watch the water and pigment interact.
Don't interupt.
Let it dry and add more later.
Beautiful.












I chose a small spring plant.
Pulled right from where I'd planted it.
Roots, dirt and all.
Dirty colors,
not brilliant colors.

Give me gouache.
A medium more opaque.
I can slather white roots and highlights to fix my painting up!

Oils?
Just slather the paint on top.
No need to plan.
Or so it feels to me.

My plant came out vibrantly muddy.
Some areas vibrant.
Some really need some white.

I'll go get the gouache.