Week #5 of 52 "River Flows" Oil Paintings by Nicole Slater

Week #5 of 52 Oil Paintings
"River Flows"

This week I have the challenge of a river scene to paint. Challenge? YES!
 I have never painted a river before and it seems a bit overwhelming....the unknown waters:)

I sat down and began to sketch out the scene and overall I am please with how it turned out...here is the sketch:

c. Nicole Slater sketch of "River Flows"

I love to sketch! Sketching this came easy to me. Painting it was another story. It just seemed larger than life!....all those rocks, water etc.....

Time passes and somehow I thought this would get painted on its own....

I finally got the courage up one night to start painting....this is what I discovered:

Starting to paint, I felt gloriously free, quiet, and alone. (Henri Matisse)

I have learned so much about the river, water and rocks. The rocks are like people all very unique and a lot of them!

 The water I painted incorporates: many layers of paint, sweat and tears...along with moments of pure joy!

 The biggest challenge was to go from the deepest of darks to the lightest of lights.... the darks being the depth of the water and the shadows of rocks under water and cast shadow of giant boulders.

 The lightest of light colors to create the waves and glistening light hitting the top of the waters surface..... and then the in between tones to bring together all these layers as one body of water.... whew! Tired thinking about it!!!

The last layers were my hardest because right when I thought it was looking great....I had to apply the thick waves and pray it didn't ruin all the under-painting!

I am please with the outcome of the art and the patients I gained in this lesson....I hope you can see all my efforts I put into this work of art:))

 



"River Flows"

            c. Nicole Slater 2/14  20x20" Oil Painting

             #5 of 52 paintings