Is it Done or Is it Finished?
These two photos of two of my most recent paintings give a better sense of the size of the water color sketches to the finished work. For these two acrylics, the sketches are about 1/4 the size of the finished work. With the large watercolor I did of the Amonoosuc River, the ratio was more like 7 1/2 to 1. At this point, I don't do a detailed scale down or up from sketch to finished painting, it is more just a part of the process. Trying to keep this as simple as possible for quick and efficient sketching in an attempt to capture the moments which catch my attention. I'm quite motivated by the idea of capturing the different moods of a subject, and even imagining them based on earlier observations of nature. Both of these paintings are realistic subjects - they do exist, but in imaginary perspective for the old mill pond, and imaging a winters evening full moon light at a local farm. I really enjoyed these different exercises in the studio. Working on loca