Take a new tack...

My last painting was extemporaneous. By that I mean the painting painted itself; it evolved from what was happening on the watercolor paper. You might like to revisit my demonstration "Winter Wells" for a better understanding of that process. That painting wasn't planned at all; it just happened.

For this new painting, I thought that I would take a new tack. I will pre-plan, define it in my own mind and force the pigments and paper to conform to my will. Still things will happen by accident; they always do with watercolor. I will not be so closed-minded that I do not take advantage of my lucky breaks.

So, what should I paint? I close my eyes and imagine. My surroundings help. It is late fall, one week before winter and the fall has been a good one, good defined by color on the Oaks, Sweet Gums, Red Oaks and other trees in my area. My breath outside has only just begun to frost in the mornings.

In the town of Grapevine, this Dallas/Fort Worth suburb where I live and paint, wise city management attempts to preserve the old, the historical and the charm of its roots. Part of that effort is the preservation of an old red barn.

Near my studio, two horses graze in someone's pasture unaware they just made my painting.

But, I need an additional challenge. That challenge will be to contrast crisp sky with late fall foliage and present an epic color battle between the leaves of Texas Oaks and this morning's frosty cold but always expressive sky.