Lake Powell Quiet Canyons Painting

I feel like I’m catching on to it a little. With a nod to my hero David Drummond, I used a photo I shot near Bullfrog on Lake Powell and tried to capture the glassy undulating feel of the smooth water beneath the striated cliffs. I can almost hear the “plop” of my bass lure as I sling it near the rocks. I had this one framed with a knotty alder frame in a light stain, with ivory mats, and the whole package looks great. Maybe I ought to just keep this one. Ah, but it’s going in the upcoming St. George Art Museum Canyon Country show in March. Click for purchase information

The first step is to sketch out my drawing on 140 lb. Arches paper. I then begin with a wet-in-wet wash for the sky. It is completed in just a few minutes and allowed to dry with no overglazing.

I also use a wet-in-wet watercolor technique for the water and the rocks. After they are dry I can use wet-on-dry overglazes to add color, contrast, and detail.

A good way to build up texture on the rocks with watercolor is to splatter with clear water just before the glaze dries. This creates a fun random texture that looks very much like stains on the canyon walls.