A second subject appears, as I paint en plein air with the Inland Northwest Outdoor Painters Group last Saturday (Tubb’s Hill in Coeur d’Alene ID).
You know how that goes don’t you?
Just A Second…
You see something that just really catches your eye, so, you grab a camera and take pictures as fast as you can. There are 6 different shots that I took. There is really no choice, because, you sure don’t want to quit painting what you are already working on.
What kind is it?
When my subject appeared it was a single beautiful duck on patrol for goodies. Can you find this kind of duck on the ducks.org link? What kind is it? Message me the answer and win a free sketch. This one duck was so interested in me (us) sitting on the shore, that he/she came back again and again to see if maybe I had decided to share some kind of snack. I wasn’t eating, but, that is the only reason I could think of for so many return trips throughout the morning. I was not the only one who noticed. A fellow pléin air painter, Aimee, noticed this character too. Now, I am curious to see if she decides to paint it when she gets back home too. We’ll have to wait and see.
Mix and Match
As I look through these photographs I realize that the water changes so very much, in every single one! Using my artistic privilege I pick my favorite positions and also sort through the best water patterns to do. During this process, I have a crazy thought of maybe doing each and every one of those water patterns and maybe even doing them in psychedelic colors, Hmmm… Neon green and yellow highlights and blue with purple shadows. WATCH OUT! The crazy artist is emerging out of me. I settle down my inner creative lady and convince her to just do one simple pair of ducks on the water (real water) before actually starting the project. If we want to, we can do a totally neon one after we finish this one.
This is the, “Duck Patrol”, painting beginning. You may notice that I have altered reality just a little bit by giving my single ducky/goose/waterfowl a partner to cruise the waters with. With many swimming around in my photos to choose from, “Why not?” Life is so much more fun when we are lucky enough to have friends join us along the way.