May 19th, 2013
Cox Reservation
Essex Greenbelt, Essex MA
Oil on Canvas, 16 x 20 in
(sold)

I wanted to paint the river at low tide because I liked the reflection of the sky in the puddles on the mudflats – so I hurried at the beginning to get my sky and water in (because they obviously have to match.) By the time I had nearly finished all the rest of it, I was frustrated by how different my painting looked from what was in front of me – at that point, a swollen tidal river at high tide. However, both halves were accurate to the space / time they were painted in, and they are very harmonious in tone as the light was consistent throughout the day as I looked northward. It was a beautiful day for painting and being outside. I loved the sinuous riverbed and its echo in the footpath, I think I conveyed this adequately too.