This large painting was done from several studies I did in Rocky Mountain National Park. I often work this way because it gives me the truest colors and values, much more accurate than a camera, because it is what I saw, not what the camera saw. I added the puddles in the road for a reason.

I decided that another way to lead into the painting could be puddles, placed in strategic places, not just at random, to work in the painting. The largest puddle in the foreground is mostly in the shadow, so it won’t distract, but the right top edge of it forms a sharp “pointer” to the main aspen on the right. Click on the painting to enlarge it and see what I’m talking about. Then the logs take over and hopefully further lead you to the aspen tree.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and that it gives you something to think about. Feel free to share with friends and have them email me at cecy@cecyturner.com if they want to be placed on my notification list of new posts on my blog. Merry Christmas!