Cranes Taking Flight

Cranes II Taking Flight, matted 16 in x 20 in, original available, $395

Staying with the theme of last week, here is my second painting of 2016. Again, the Sandhill Cranes of Whitewater Draw in Arizona were the models, but the water reflecting the morning light is the real challenge here.

 Step by step, this watercolor was developed from light to dark and liquid frisket was applied to allow the washes to flow as undisturbed as possible. When the mask was removed lights in the background were overpainted to push them back. I then used a wet brush to lift some of the darks from the water in the middle ground and to soften some edges.

The original, and also prints in all sizes are available