Dawn Fishing

“Dawn Fishing” – 11 x 15 watercolor – SOLD

After a landscape or two that were quite giddy with fauve color, here’s one in a quieter more contemplative mood. Fishing friends through the years have told me that dawn and twilight are the best times for fishing. Except, of course if there’s a mid-day hatch of damselflies or something else, and then noon to afternoon is best. I think what they were saying is that any time of day is great if you’re in the mood, the conditions are right and the fish are hungry.

Kind of like painting, I think.

A watercolorist friend of mine says that early morning and early evening are the best times because the colors are most intense. The arc of the midday sun washes the colors out – and unless you want that brilliant bleached out look you’ll find better plein airing at “golden hour.”

Today’s art tip comes from an article by Brian Freeman in Artist Magazine: “Artist Dan Goozee’s advice was that you should stop working when you think you’re about 80 percent done. At that point, he said, you’re actually 90 percent done. Stop before you’re finished. Goozee’s words resonated with me. A big part of art is walking away – then coming back and looking at the work with a fresh eye.”

Or as my wc teacher says – every art kit should come with a guy with a hammer – to hit you on the head when you should stop.

Comments

1. 

   Agnes
   April 26, 2007

   This is so beautiful, Karen.

2. 

   Ronell
   April 26, 2007

   Beautiful Karen! The water is perfect and lovelyatmosheric skies.
   Ronell

3. 

   Casey
   April 26, 2007

   Great advice – and a beautiful painting.

4. 

   carole
   April 26, 2007

   This is a lovely composition, and you are so good at sky! It’s a beautiful fresh, peaceful scene.

5. 

   Frank Bettendorf
   April 26, 2007

   Great to see the fishing image! I loved the way you handled the sky and the water. Well done.
   Frank

6. 

   Annie
   April 26, 2007

   Another one of your beautiful skies, Karen. You have captured so much loveliness and peace.

7. 

   Laura
   April 27, 2007

   Karen, if this is available for purchase, I’d like to! It’s gorgeous.

8. 

   Linda
   April 28, 2007

   Oooh — a fishing painting! This is really great — love the atmosphere!