Morning on the Marsh

It was our final day in New York, visiting dear friends in the Hudson River Valley. We were less than a mile from the Appalachian Trail, and I was determined to squeeze in some trail time before we rushed off to catch our flight home. Jeff and I got up extra early, slipped out the back door and onto the greenbelt. Suddenly I saw all the inspiration for which the Hudson River School painters are famous. The lush greenery! The light, the shadows, the water! We made our way through dense patches of trees, past a little waterfall, some civil war ruins, and finally to this beautiful marsh. Everything was in shadow except the light hitting the water and the marsh in the background. It took my breath away. 

This painting, while it looks like traditional watercolor, was an experimental mixed-media technique involving pouring liquid acrylics, covering the pour with transparent watercolor ground, then painting in watercolor directly on top of the acrylics—exactly opposite how most mixed media pieces are created. It was a fun and challenging process.

This painting is on currently on display at the AmBank Invitational Show in Provo.

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