Winter Waves

Watercolor and Pastel on Arches - 4x6

"Winter Waves" 4x6 watercolor and pastel on Arches. This view of the surf at Vilano Beach was inspired by my photographs and videos after a recent storm. The air was crisp and wind had died, but the waves were spectacular.

Palm Bay

Palm Bay

Pastel 12x12 on UArt

I did this painting to express the sense of stillness and calm that surrounds the slow moving stream as it enters the salt marsh.  On the banks of the stream at the edge of the deep oak forest, the palm trees grow tall and straight.  It is as if these palms guard the entrance to the higher ground, and in the heat of the day, they appear to stand all that much taller.  As the clouds begin to form in the early afternoon, they diffuse the light and cast passing shadows over the marsh.

I updated and revised this painting - lightened some of the deeper areas, added some purple, and added blue tints to the distance.  The essence of the painting is the same.  I was also able to take a better photo.

Thru the Sea Oats

Oil on panel - 8x6

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This is a view of the Gulf of Mexico through the dunes and sea oats at Cape San Blas. This is one of my favorite spots. The beach is usually nearly deserted, the wind is always blowing, and in the bright sunlight, the colors are more intese against the sugar-white sand.

This is the second daily painting I've made of this view using drawings and reference photos. This one is much better than the first.

"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