Cattails 4

Pastel 16x12

On bright summer mornings, the cattails cast their reflections across the pond.  The reflections are ruffled by the soft breezes, and the long blades of the cattails wave their answer.

This scene was complicated by masses of details that had to be toned down, understated, and removed so that the main idea - the cattails and their reflections - could dominate the composition.

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Cattails and Lilies

Pastel 9x12 on UArt

I was attracted to this view by the cattails on the retention pond standing in sharp contrast to deep shadows and dark reflections.  Another painting for my demo at Georgia Nick Gallery.
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Cattails 3

Pastel 9x12 on UArt

The cattails on the retention pond stand in sharp contrast to the short grass.  I have done this composition before in other sizes, but I used it again for my demo at Georgia Nick Gallery.
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"Spring Blue Headwaters"

Oil on linen panel - 8 x 10

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This is a picture of a bridge over the headwaters of San Pablo Creek. I have driven over this bridge many times, but until I stopped and walked to where I could see the bridge at a distance, I discovered the blazing blue of the water with all the color and exquisite form of the bridge and little stream. This painting was made to capture the early spring when the maples and willows on the other side of the bridge are just beginning to come to life. At this time of year, most of the cattails are bleached nearly white contrasting with the water weeds that still retain some of their green along with the reds and russets of the winter.

This painting took me longer to complete than I would have liked because the contrast between the red of the old growth and green of the new was difficult for me to get wet-in-wet. I wiped out a number of times, but found that using a "pallet, stroke, pallet, stroke" process with plenty of medium worked for me. That kept the two contrasting colors from mixing too much.

Rick Petersen